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Being(s) in Love #2
A Boy and His Dragon
"A Being(s) in Love Story"
Arthur MacArthur needs a job, and not just for the money. Before he dropped out of school to support his younger sister, he loved being a research assistant at the university. But working for a dragon, one of the rarest and least understood magical beings, has unforeseen complications. While Arthur may be the only applicant who isn't afraid of Philbert Jones in his dragon form, the instant attraction he feels for his new employer is beyond disconcerting.
Bertie is a brilliant historian, but he can't find his own notes without help-his house is a hoard of books and antiques, hence the need for an assistant. Setting the mess to rights is a dream come true for Arthur, who once aspired to be an archivist. But making sense of Bertie's interest in him is another matter. After all, dragons collect treasure, and Arthur is anything but extraordinary.
Arthur MacArthur needs a job, and not just for the money. Before he dropped out of school to support his younger sister, he loved being a research assistant at the university. But working for a dragon, one of the rarest and least understood magical beings, has unforeseen complications. While Arthur may be the only applicant who isn't afraid of Philbert Jones in his dragon form, the instant attraction he feels for his new employer is beyond disconcerting.
Bertie is a brilliant historian, but he can't find his own notes without help-his house is a hoard of books and antiques, hence the need for an assistant. Setting the mess to rights is a dream come true for Arthur, who once aspired to be an archivist. But making sense of Bertie's interest in him is another matter. After all, dragons collect treasure, and Arthur is anything but extraordinary.
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2013
88 people are currently reading
1597 people want to read
About the author
R. Cooper
81 books999 followersI'm R. Cooper, a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and The Suitable 'Verse stories. Also the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love.
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If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
Otherwise... have some social media links if you want updates and whatever the hell else I am talking about.
Tumblr
BlueSky
**With Meta's current policies, I do not use FB or Insta or Threads for anything but the bare minimum.**
Instagram and Threads
You can also support me on Patreon if you like
If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
January 27, 2013
Update 27.01.2013
Rating, Content&Reading / constricted settings, Further Reviews
Rating:
4.33 stars.
4.67 stars.
Genre:
Sweet, slow, and calm fantasy m-m-romance novel with endearing (main) characters.
Content Advisory:
Even if one of the main character is a shape shifting dragon:
This romance is not for readers looking for action, lot of smut, lots of shifting, lot of plot time with characters in shifted form, evil villains, main characters saving the world, instant and/or destined mates, etc.
...but for readers enjoying a slow and sweet romance between endearing characters in a fantasy context (the shapeshifting dragon, world with Beings, magic, etc.)
Infos
main characters:
Dr. Philbert “Bertie” Jones, historian and book author, is a dragon in desperate need of an assistant and a helpless romantic at heart.
Arthur MacArthur, former history student, is living with Kate and in despereate need of money and a good job. Also being characterized by Bertie as: “Bold of purpose, pure of heart, fair of face”
secondary characters:
Kate, jobless and recovering alcoholic, is Arthur’s sister.
impressions:
This is a mostly calm and quiet read with just a tang of angst (by Arthur): Before coming to the job interview Arthur intends to find later a shed scale of the dragon Dr. Jones and sell it on the black market as he has a high load of debts. But he doesn't intend to do this after getting to know Bertie and fears of his reaction if he get to know of his original intention.
Content & Reading: Pros/Neutral/Cons
+ real slow romance. In the first three quaters of the book the attraction is growing until . More plot than sex.
+ dragon species (similar to shifters): interesting approach/implementation. Even if Bertie is mainly in is human form in the story, you get his “otherness” as he exhibits and retains some dragon traits which show now and then; like hints of the scales under/in the skin, high temperature, pupil/eye changes, flicking tongue, and one time: breath of small flame to ignite his herbal zigarette, ...
+ sweet and endearing main characters
+/o constricted settings (90% of the plot is inside Berties house).Together with the slow romance and calm style this could lead to feelings of repetition and too short plot for book length, but it was ok for me *shrugs* I’ll quote a good remark by oceankitty on this: “Maybe they need to be stuck in a "cave" [...]? A dragon has to protect his treasure, his maiden and his hoard of collected wisdom...”
o 3rd person POV, solely Arthur. Berties POV was only indirectly perceivable through Arthur's perception and the readers conclusions. Perhaps mixing it up with some chapters from Bertie's POV would have “spiced it up” regarding the effects from the constricted settings.
(Sex-/)Love Scene(s):
Quantity: low
Quality: sweet and hot
Further Reviews (I agree with):
Mandy’s review
Oceankitty’s review
MandyM’s review
AquaScales’ review
Rating, Content&Reading / constricted settings, Further Reviews
Rating:
4.67 stars.
Genre:
Sweet, slow, and calm fantasy m-m-romance novel with endearing (main) characters.
Content Advisory:
Even if one of the main character is a shape shifting dragon:
This romance is not for readers looking for action, lot of smut, lots of shifting, lot of plot time with characters in shifted form, evil villains, main characters saving the world, instant and/or destined mates, etc.
...but for readers enjoying a slow and sweet romance between endearing characters in a fantasy context (the shapeshifting dragon, world with Beings, magic, etc.)
Infos
main characters:
Dr. Philbert “Bertie” Jones, historian and book author, is a dragon in desperate need of an assistant and a helpless romantic at heart.
Arthur MacArthur, former history student, is living with Kate and in despereate need of money and a good job. Also being characterized by Bertie as: “Bold of purpose, pure of heart, fair of face”
secondary characters:
Kate, jobless and recovering alcoholic, is Arthur’s sister.
impressions:
This is a mostly calm and quiet read with just a tang of angst (by Arthur): Before coming to the job interview Arthur intends to find later a shed scale of the dragon Dr. Jones and sell it on the black market as he has a high load of debts. But he doesn't intend to do this after getting to know Bertie and fears of his reaction if he get to know of his original intention.
Content & Reading: Pros/Neutral/Cons
+ real slow romance. In the first three quaters of the book the attraction is growing until . More plot than sex.
+ dragon species (similar to shifters): interesting approach/implementation. Even if Bertie is mainly in is human form in the story, you get his “otherness” as he exhibits and retains some dragon traits which show now and then; like hints of the scales under/in the skin, high temperature, pupil/eye changes, flicking tongue, and one time: breath of small flame to ignite his herbal zigarette, ...
+ sweet and endearing main characters
+/o constricted settings (90% of the plot is inside Berties house).
o 3rd person POV, solely Arthur. Berties POV was only indirectly perceivable through Arthur's perception and the readers conclusions. Perhaps mixing it up with some chapters from Bertie's POV would have “spiced it up” regarding the effects from the constricted settings.
(Sex-/)Love Scene(s):
Quantity: low
Quality: sweet and hot
Further Reviews (I agree with):
Mandy’s review
Oceankitty’s review
MandyM’s review
AquaScales’ review
July 21, 2016
3.85 stars
Just adorable, Bertie is a sweetheart, how can you not fall in love with him, the darling is a delightful scatterbrain. Arthur gets his dragon in the end and they compliment each other wonderfully. A lovely feel good story and so cute. Loved the dragon storyline and their history an interesting take on a fairytale romance. Ice's review says it all so lovingly. Recommended, a fun story.
Just adorable, Bertie is a sweetheart, how can you not fall in love with him, the darling is a delightful scatterbrain. Arthur gets his dragon in the end and they compliment each other wonderfully. A lovely feel good story and so cute. Loved the dragon storyline and their history an interesting take on a fairytale romance. Ice's review says it all so lovingly. Recommended, a fun story.
May 17, 2025
What can I say, your honor? Dragons. A beautiful, possessive, protective, gentle dragon specifically.
It is a slow-paced, low-angst sweet story about Arthur, a human desperately in need of work and money, and Bertie (or Dr. Jones 🤭), a historian AND a dragon desperately in need of an assistant. You know where it's going right 🤭
Oh. My. Lord. Bertie and Arthur were so damn sweet?? I totally fell in love with Bertie, he was so caring without being overbearing, clearly fighting his dragon instincts to not cross any boundaries Arthur might have. The amount of time he made me go "awww" out loud is obscene 👀 For such a short story I would say it's a slow(ish) burn because it's clear they're attracted to each other but nothing happens for the majority of the book, but the pay-off was so worth it. When Arthur and Bertie finally collided? fuuuuuuh 🔥🔥
Beware of some misunderstandings and miscommunication, but it really worked here and I was lapping it up. The single third-person narrative helped because you don't know what the other MC is really thinking, and that made Arthur's assumptions less frustrating to me. Also, most of it stems from Arthur's low self-esteem coupled with his fierce independence and inability to ask for help while still craving kindness and attention. Safe to say, he's quite a relatable character.
On the other hand, it's good the book wasn't any longer because I was ready to tear my hair out for them to JUST KISS ALREADY 😤🥰
Dragon lovers will also appreciate the faux historical facts about dragons and the portrayal of their protective nature, and the spin on them being helpless romantics to a fault was lovely 🥰🐉
"Then you shouldn't scare people."
It was a mistake. Arthur tensed, waiting for some furious reaction to his scolding even as he was forced to admit that he had, in fact, just scolded a dragon as though it was his baby sister, but after a second of silence, Dr. Jones's gaze seemed to turn to liquid.
"Did I truly frighten you, pet?"
Thank you, @Drache (Angelika) for your review that made me pick this up ❤️
It is a slow-paced, low-angst sweet story about Arthur, a human desperately in need of work and money, and Bertie (or Dr. Jones 🤭), a historian AND a dragon desperately in need of an assistant. You know where it's going right 🤭
Oh. My. Lord. Bertie and Arthur were so damn sweet?? I totally fell in love with Bertie, he was so caring without being overbearing, clearly fighting his dragon instincts to not cross any boundaries Arthur might have. The amount of time he made me go "awww" out loud is obscene 👀 For such a short story I would say it's a slow(ish) burn because it's clear they're attracted to each other but nothing happens for the majority of the book, but the pay-off was so worth it. When Arthur and Bertie finally collided? fuuuuuuh 🔥🔥
Beware of some misunderstandings and miscommunication, but it really worked here and I was lapping it up. The single third-person narrative helped because you don't know what the other MC is really thinking, and that made Arthur's assumptions less frustrating to me. Also, most of it stems from Arthur's low self-esteem coupled with his fierce independence and inability to ask for help while still craving kindness and attention. Safe to say, he's quite a relatable character.
On the other hand, it's good the book wasn't any longer because I was ready to tear my hair out for them to JUST KISS ALREADY 😤🥰
Dragon lovers will also appreciate the faux historical facts about dragons and the portrayal of their protective nature, and the spin on them being helpless romantics to a fault was lovely 🥰🐉
"Then you shouldn't scare people."
It was a mistake. Arthur tensed, waiting for some furious reaction to his scolding even as he was forced to admit that he had, in fact, just scolded a dragon as though it was his baby sister, but after a second of silence, Dr. Jones's gaze seemed to turn to liquid.
"Did I truly frighten you, pet?"
Thank you, @Drache (Angelika) for your review that made me pick this up ❤️
January 21, 2013
You know that thing where you're talking to a friend about, say, Eddie Izzard's "Do you have a flag?" bit and you're all laughing and appreciating the genius that is your imaginary boyfriend and there was a slight pause in the conversation as your friend sips her coffee or takes a breath and you keep on thinking about Izzard and his drag days and you remember your drag queen cousin is coming for the party next week and he said he's bringing his new puppy and you're worried how you're gonna keep your dog from humping his dog and you remember your neighbor kicking your dog the other day because he dared sniff your neighbor's butt, so when your friend gets back into the conversation, you say, "He's always been a bit of an asshole." And your friend says, "Eddie Izzard?" And you look at her like she's been smoking something and say, "No. My neighbor."
Well, this book was kinda like that. It was like the MCs were having a telepathic conversation and the author only managed to put half of it on paper. One of them would be saying something on one topic and the other would reply with something that seemed so off, but actually made sense once you followed the (seemingly off-page) train of thought leading from the original statement.
Also, the characters sometimes have these conversations where they say something that I thought was already cleared up pages before. Like one of them would be worrying about the other's feelings about a certain situation and I'd go, "But wasn't this discussed two chapters ago? I remember 'cause my lady boner was raging then."
This is still a pretty good book, of course. Much like the first one in the series, this one was slow-burn of the highest level and blue balls all around. The great thing about it is you appreciate the unresolved sexual tension. So much so in fact that you want to prolong it even when you're already 80 fucking percent in. The MCs have a lot of chemistry and the world building is pretty cool, though granted it was not as colorful as the first book in the series.
So, pretty much a decent read. I'm just prolly not used to Cooper's writing style, which isn't exactly that big of an issue when you factor in the wonderful creatures and lovable MCs in this world. So I'll still be picking up the next book in the series, but will just mentally prep for a headache next time.
Well, this book was kinda like that. It was like the MCs were having a telepathic conversation and the author only managed to put half of it on paper. One of them would be saying something on one topic and the other would reply with something that seemed so off, but actually made sense once you followed the (seemingly off-page) train of thought leading from the original statement.
Also, the characters sometimes have these conversations where they say something that I thought was already cleared up pages before. Like one of them would be worrying about the other's feelings about a certain situation and I'd go, "But wasn't this discussed two chapters ago? I remember 'cause my lady boner was raging then."
This is still a pretty good book, of course. Much like the first one in the series, this one was slow-burn of the highest level and blue balls all around. The great thing about it is you appreciate the unresolved sexual tension. So much so in fact that you want to prolong it even when you're already 80 fucking percent in. The MCs have a lot of chemistry and the world building is pretty cool, though granted it was not as colorful as the first book in the series.
So, pretty much a decent read. I'm just prolly not used to Cooper's writing style, which isn't exactly that big of an issue when you factor in the wonderful creatures and lovable MCs in this world. So I'll still be picking up the next book in the series, but will just mentally prep for a headache next time.
Read
January 3, 2024This might be the most boring dragon ever, and I didn’t think a dragon can ever be boring. Guess I was wrong.
December 14, 2013
4.4*
Wow, I really liked this story, and I liked it better than the first in the series, but they are totally stand alone.
Dr Philbert Jones needs an assistant, desperately, the man umm..I mean dragon, might be brilliant, but he leaves notes in books, leaves those books wherever, has nothing organized and has so many valuable things he even loses them in his own house. He won't get his book done without some serious help.
Arthur MacArthur is in financial straits, so he jumps at the chance to be 'Bertie's' assistant, not only can he earn good money, but he is doing what he loves.
Bertie soon realizes what a 'treasure' he has in Arthur, but they do speak 'different' languages, so it takes a while. Humans and Beings sometimes need a little longer to understand each other. I really liked that even though Bertie really wanted Arthur as his boy, he didn't just demand and seduce and take, no he courted and cared without being overbearing. We only get Arthur's POV but I liked Bertie so much I would have loved a bit of his POV as well.
I won't go into more, except to say it is a very romantic love story, they don't get it on till 80% but the attraction and affection and love is palatable.
This quote just sums up Bertie's feeling so well. *sigh*
"Don’t be. You were breathtaking, pet. To think one such as you…. I would have waited much longer for much less. For you, Arthur, I would wait until Doomsday, don’t you see? For you I’d serve."
The take and history of the Beings and Dragons was very cool, I would love to read Bertie's book when he finally finishes it! ;)
Wow, I really liked this story, and I liked it better than the first in the series, but they are totally stand alone.
Dr Philbert Jones needs an assistant, desperately, the man umm..I mean dragon, might be brilliant, but he leaves notes in books, leaves those books wherever, has nothing organized and has so many valuable things he even loses them in his own house. He won't get his book done without some serious help.
Arthur MacArthur is in financial straits, so he jumps at the chance to be 'Bertie's' assistant, not only can he earn good money, but he is doing what he loves.
Bertie soon realizes what a 'treasure' he has in Arthur, but they do speak 'different' languages, so it takes a while. Humans and Beings sometimes need a little longer to understand each other. I really liked that even though Bertie really wanted Arthur as his boy, he didn't just demand and seduce and take, no he courted and cared without being overbearing. We only get Arthur's POV but I liked Bertie so much I would have loved a bit of his POV as well.
I won't go into more, except to say it is a very romantic love story, they don't get it on till 80% but the attraction and affection and love is palatable.
This quote just sums up Bertie's feeling so well. *sigh*
"Don’t be. You were breathtaking, pet. To think one such as you…. I would have waited much longer for much less. For you, Arthur, I would wait until Doomsday, don’t you see? For you I’d serve."
The take and history of the Beings and Dragons was very cool, I would love to read Bertie's book when he finally finishes it! ;)
January 31, 2025
4,25 stars.
Another gem by R. Cooper
Lovely novel full of pining and dragon history.
Don't expect an action based plot.
The storyline basically is centered around Arthur (human MC) falling in love with Dr. Philibert Burnes ("Bertie" for his friends, dragon shifter MC) and learning lots about dragons in the process.
The story is told in single pov (Arthur) third person past tense.
Bertie's feelings were thankfully quite obvious for most of the book. It was awesome to watch how he tried so hard to let oblivious Arthur set the pace in their slowly progressing relationship and to rein in his protectiveness.
Another gem by R. Cooper
Lovely novel full of pining and dragon history.
Don't expect an action based plot.
The storyline basically is centered around Arthur (human MC) falling in love with Dr. Philibert Burnes ("Bertie" for his friends, dragon shifter MC) and learning lots about dragons in the process.
The story is told in single pov (Arthur) third person past tense.
Bertie's feelings were thankfully quite obvious for most of the book. It was awesome to watch how he tried so hard to let oblivious Arthur set the pace in their slowly progressing relationship and to rein in his protectiveness.
September 26, 2020
*4 Stars*
Such a precious story *gush-worthy*
I'm in love with the alternate universe R. Cooper has created.
A world where magical beings have come out to the humans, but still remain an enigma. Where legends and misconceptions exist, leading to a lot of misunderstanding due to a lack of information being shared by many of the beings on their true nature.
Dr. Philbert Jones AKA Bertie the dragon is the most lovable character EVER. He's a little bit of everything, but for the most part he has this vulnerable, childlike and endearing demeanor that made me smile. He's also this erratic being, constantly moving, thinking, pouting, smiling, flirting. Gah. And you can feel his adoration and fondness for Arthur, it seeps out of the book.
Story is told from Arthur MacArthur's perceptive. That boy is just so flustered and awkward around Bertie. Cute. Cute. Despite his attraction for Bertie, Arthur is in such precarious state of being. His life is not as it should be, the death of his parents put an abrupt stop to his life as he knew it. His new way of existing is filled with responsibilities, financial strain, determination, desperation. He needs the job he's doing for Bertie and isn't willing to risk emotions that could be unreciprocated.
Oh this slow burn, burnt like something fierce. These two are so hesitant over their emotions, whether it's welcome or not. A look here, words left unsaid, palpable, longing. Sigh.
The romance was mesmerizing and beautiful.
Happy thought: The writing is sooo much better in this book than it was in the previous one. So much better. R.Cooper has a very specific style and it shines in this one and I can't think of a single time when I felt confused and unable to understand a section as I did previously.
My one and only niggle is the lack of Epilogue. 😭 These two deserved a glory chapter full of love. My imagination will have to do.
Highly recommend ^_^
Such a precious story *gush-worthy*
I'm in love with the alternate universe R. Cooper has created.
A world where magical beings have come out to the humans, but still remain an enigma. Where legends and misconceptions exist, leading to a lot of misunderstanding due to a lack of information being shared by many of the beings on their true nature.
Dr. Philbert Jones AKA Bertie the dragon is the most lovable character EVER. He's a little bit of everything, but for the most part he has this vulnerable, childlike and endearing demeanor that made me smile. He's also this erratic being, constantly moving, thinking, pouting, smiling, flirting. Gah. And you can feel his adoration and fondness for Arthur, it seeps out of the book.
Story is told from Arthur MacArthur's perceptive. That boy is just so flustered and awkward around Bertie. Cute. Cute. Despite his attraction for Bertie, Arthur is in such precarious state of being. His life is not as it should be, the death of his parents put an abrupt stop to his life as he knew it. His new way of existing is filled with responsibilities, financial strain, determination, desperation. He needs the job he's doing for Bertie and isn't willing to risk emotions that could be unreciprocated.
Oh this slow burn, burnt like something fierce. These two are so hesitant over their emotions, whether it's welcome or not. A look here, words left unsaid, palpable, longing. Sigh.
The romance was mesmerizing and beautiful.
Happy thought: The writing is sooo much better in this book than it was in the previous one. So much better. R.Cooper has a very specific style and it shines in this one and I can't think of a single time when I felt confused and unable to understand a section as I did previously.
My one and only niggle is the lack of Epilogue. 😭 These two deserved a glory chapter full of love. My imagination will have to do.
Highly recommend ^_^
May 27, 2013
This started as a cute story for me, but ultimately turned into a very frustrating read.
What I liked: I like Cooper’s modern world with magic mixed in--a world like ours, but “Beings” like werewolves and fairies and dragons exist and live and work among people (and are “out” and known to the world.) It’s fun and imaginative, and it’s a nice added twist when the academic writer is an ancient dragon with treasures hidden around his house (in between all his dusty books and research notes.)
The characters of Arthur (the boy) and Bertie (the dragon) are very appealing. Arthur is a poor grad student, struggling to keep a roof over his and his sister’s head after the death of their parents. The job of assisting a dragon who is working on a book seems like a dream come true, especially since that dragon’s house is a big mess and Arthur loves organizing and archiving. Discovering that dragon can shift into a hot human form and is incapable of talking to him without flirting makes things a little difficult though.
Arthur and Bertie are sweet, and their romance is a very slow burn, but overall chill and low angst as they dance around the fact that they’re falling for each other.
Also, I think the cover is very cute and does a neat job of capturing the MCs.
What was harder for me: There were a few things that made this a frustrating read.
- It’s a full novel, but there’s very little plot and conflict so it felt very slow and a slog to get through.
For me personally, this story could have been tightened up into a novella or short story, and you could have gotten a lot of the same warm fuzzies without all the pages of no-conflict story and the frustrating repetition of confusing conversations. (I kept feeling all the characters were talking with each other, but having separate conversations. That, and so much thinking between statements. “I’m in the kitchen.” Paragraphs of thoughts. “I would love some tea.” Paragraphs of more thoughts.)
When the h/c Arthur-and-Bertie-get-sick-and-take-care-of-each-other part came on, I kept thinking, “I know I’ve read something like this, but it was some 1,500 word fanfic where the writer wanted some h/c fluff.” I missed that 1,500 word tightness that allows you to exercise the fluff demons out, but doesn’t overburden you (and leave you bored.)
Which was probably the hardest part for me besides the confusing dialogue--I found the story and its progression very dull. I wish for such a long story, that some more conflict or plot points were added to help keep things going.
And I like sweet and warm and fuzzy, but just with something else added. Because of that, even though I usually love pairings like Arthur & Bertie, I actually like the first book in the series, Some Kind of Magic, a little better. I found the dialogue also confusing sometimes in that book, but I think the mystery and the crime-solving added a little more structure and fire to the narrative.
That being said, you do not need to read Some Kind of Magic to enjoy this book. They’re in the same “world’ of Beings and Humans, but they’re not connected otherwise. All you need going into this book is an open mind that dragons and other magical creatures exist in our everyday lives.
Although this book didn’t work for me, I have GR friends who did enjoy it very much and found it a nice read, so your mileage will really vary. You may find it a very satisfyingly warm, comforting, and sweet story about a poor student and his (literally) smokin’ hot dragon boss.
If you like urban fantasy romance reads and are okay with a very slow burn romance, this may work very well for you. For me, Cooper’s writing style may not be my bag. I’ll probably hop off the train here unless another mystery pops up.
What I liked: I like Cooper’s modern world with magic mixed in--a world like ours, but “Beings” like werewolves and fairies and dragons exist and live and work among people (and are “out” and known to the world.) It’s fun and imaginative, and it’s a nice added twist when the academic writer is an ancient dragon with treasures hidden around his house (in between all his dusty books and research notes.)
The characters of Arthur (the boy) and Bertie (the dragon) are very appealing. Arthur is a poor grad student, struggling to keep a roof over his and his sister’s head after the death of their parents. The job of assisting a dragon who is working on a book seems like a dream come true, especially since that dragon’s house is a big mess and Arthur loves organizing and archiving. Discovering that dragon can shift into a hot human form and is incapable of talking to him without flirting makes things a little difficult though.
Arthur and Bertie are sweet, and their romance is a very slow burn, but overall chill and low angst as they dance around the fact that they’re falling for each other.
Also, I think the cover is very cute and does a neat job of capturing the MCs.
What was harder for me: There were a few things that made this a frustrating read.
- It’s a full novel, but there’s very little plot and conflict so it felt very slow and a slog to get through.
For me personally, this story could have been tightened up into a novella or short story, and you could have gotten a lot of the same warm fuzzies without all the pages of no-conflict story and the frustrating repetition of confusing conversations. (I kept feeling all the characters were talking with each other, but having separate conversations. That, and so much thinking between statements. “I’m in the kitchen.” Paragraphs of thoughts. “I would love some tea.” Paragraphs of more thoughts.)
When the h/c Arthur-and-Bertie-get-sick-and-take-care-of-each-other part came on, I kept thinking, “I know I’ve read something like this, but it was some 1,500 word fanfic where the writer wanted some h/c fluff.” I missed that 1,500 word tightness that allows you to exercise the fluff demons out, but doesn’t overburden you (and leave you bored.)
Which was probably the hardest part for me besides the confusing dialogue--I found the story and its progression very dull. I wish for such a long story, that some more conflict or plot points were added to help keep things going.
And I like sweet and warm and fuzzy, but just with something else added. Because of that, even though I usually love pairings like Arthur & Bertie, I actually like the first book in the series, Some Kind of Magic, a little better. I found the dialogue also confusing sometimes in that book, but I think the mystery and the crime-solving added a little more structure and fire to the narrative.
That being said, you do not need to read Some Kind of Magic to enjoy this book. They’re in the same “world’ of Beings and Humans, but they’re not connected otherwise. All you need going into this book is an open mind that dragons and other magical creatures exist in our everyday lives.
Although this book didn’t work for me, I have GR friends who did enjoy it very much and found it a nice read, so your mileage will really vary. You may find it a very satisfyingly warm, comforting, and sweet story about a poor student and his (literally) smokin’ hot dragon boss.
If you like urban fantasy romance reads and are okay with a very slow burn romance, this may work very well for you. For me, Cooper’s writing style may not be my bag. I’ll probably hop off the train here unless another mystery pops up.
March 4, 2013
Felt like a bit of a slog. Interesting idea, and I liked the last 15% of the story, but overall too much organising of books and exchanging of cryptic comments/meaningful looks.
Possibly not my book.
EDIT: Also, I'd steer you towards Tiya Rosa's review, as she has a similar opinion to mine about some aspects of the book, although overall she liked it more than I.
Possibly not my book.
EDIT: Also, I'd steer you towards Tiya Rosa's review, as she has a similar opinion to mine about some aspects of the book, although overall she liked it more than I.
February 2, 2013
3.5
Bertie and Arthur are adorable. I loved them. This is definitely a slow burn romance and loaded with charm. Loved the concept and the characters. Any issues that I had have to be with Cooper's writing style. It just doesn't quite work for me in a way that I felt a bit detached from the storyline. Still, a wonderfully romantic tale about a boy and his dragon. Great title.
Bertie and Arthur are adorable. I loved them. This is definitely a slow burn romance and loaded with charm. Loved the concept and the characters. Any issues that I had have to be with Cooper's writing style. It just doesn't quite work for me in a way that I felt a bit detached from the storyline. Still, a wonderfully romantic tale about a boy and his dragon. Great title.
October 11, 2015
Oh.My.God!!!!!! I LOVED Arthur and Phil!! Such a sweeeeeet story it was! It is definitely going on my to be re-read shelf!! I could read it possibly 4-5 times more!!!!!! I am absolutely giddy after reading it!!! Eeeeeeeeepppp!!
January 5, 2013
4.25 stars. I love this delicious slow-burn paranormal romance about struggling, pure-of-heart Arthur McArthur and the powerful and flirtatious dragon-shifter, Dr Philbert Jones. The attraction crackles across the pages as the two MC's navigate their misconceptions, mistrust and feverish imaginings to find out what a dragon's treasure really is. The two guys don't get together until about 80% but it's fierce and erotic when they do. I love the intense way this author writes and I think her style is improving with every book I've read.
March 17, 2015
I’ve decided that when I read this series I need to just read and not think conventionally. I finished, wrote my review and then had a serious OMG moment. Duh. I really just read the book wrong. I think there are two ways to read this book.
I unfortunately was reading the book as a romance. And yes, it is, but it is not the kind I am used to and because of what my brain was thinking I totally missed the point. Here is what I wrote first.
I am totally torn by this. Part of me gets it, I really do. I felt all of it and was completely caught up in this beautiful, romantic tale, but the other part of me is screaming in frustration. They never talked. Nothing was really explained and sometimes big romantic gestures don't cure all. Arthur spent all his time thinking but never saying. Actually, he spent all his time saying exactly that "but I won't say it“. Bertie never said anything. It was all gestures and quotes without explanation and Arthur, not knowing Dragons scrambled the entire book. I don't even know if at the end he understood how they got there.
Totally stealing this from Otila because it is so, so fitting.
And then the light bulb went off. This should be read like a fairy tale more than like a romance. I realized if I had just focused on being told a story about Dragon lore and noticed how the lore itself was being woven into the story I was reading I think I would have felt so much less frustration. Realizing this actually bumped it back to a 4★ read. I smiled bigger. I went back and re-read quotes and the mini stories and just felt lighter and happier. I was able to go back and actually hear everything Bertie was saying; seeing that he was weaving his own tale with Arthur and that the gestures were enough.
But, I am still only human and seriously needed like one more chapter. I wanted to see the results and I felt let down by not getting to see at least one day in the after, the happily ever after.
But then I remembered, with tales of Dragons, rarely did the story tell you if they lived happily ever after.
I am not a Dragon though!! I want to read the HEA!! Especially the fairy tale variety.
I unfortunately was reading the book as a romance. And yes, it is, but it is not the kind I am used to and because of what my brain was thinking I totally missed the point. Here is what I wrote first.
I am totally torn by this. Part of me gets it, I really do. I felt all of it and was completely caught up in this beautiful, romantic tale, but the other part of me is screaming in frustration. They never talked. Nothing was really explained and sometimes big romantic gestures don't cure all. Arthur spent all his time thinking but never saying. Actually, he spent all his time saying exactly that "but I won't say it“. Bertie never said anything. It was all gestures and quotes without explanation and Arthur, not knowing Dragons scrambled the entire book. I don't even know if at the end he understood how they got there.
Totally stealing this from Otila because it is so, so fitting.
And then the light bulb went off. This should be read like a fairy tale more than like a romance. I realized if I had just focused on being told a story about Dragon lore and noticed how the lore itself was being woven into the story I was reading I think I would have felt so much less frustration. Realizing this actually bumped it back to a 4★ read. I smiled bigger. I went back and re-read quotes and the mini stories and just felt lighter and happier. I was able to go back and actually hear everything Bertie was saying; seeing that he was weaving his own tale with Arthur and that the gestures were enough.
But, I am still only human and seriously needed like one more chapter. I wanted to see the results and I felt let down by not getting to see at least one day in the after, the happily ever after.
But then I remembered, with tales of Dragons, rarely did the story tell you if they lived happily ever after.
I am not a Dragon though!! I want to read the HEA!! Especially the fairy tale variety.
December 5, 2023
3.5 stars
A lot to like. Good lore, believable pining, wooing, caretaking. I am a sucker for a magical touch, and enjoyed all the supernatural elements here.
Poor Arthur is really a sad boi, gutted that he had to give up his studies and that he and sister are struggling so much financially. Bertie is happy to provide, though it takes Arthur a very long time to take him up on any of his offers and he remains uncertain even after Bertie insists.
As enjoyable as that premise is, I found the pace to be a bit too slow. I enjoy a slow burn but I felt like we were going around in circles in the middle and the climax came really late in the book and thus felt a bit rushed to me.
A lot of their conversations were purposefully oblique which was consistent and did contribute to a certain tone but kind of started to grate on me by the end. I can see how it was necessary to the plot but I wished that the author had found another way to keep Arthur a bit in the dark until he was ready to understand .
A lot to like. Good lore, believable pining, wooing, caretaking. I am a sucker for a magical touch, and enjoyed all the supernatural elements here.
Poor Arthur is really a sad boi, gutted that he had to give up his studies and that he and sister are struggling so much financially. Bertie is happy to provide, though it takes Arthur a very long time to take him up on any of his offers and he remains uncertain even after Bertie insists.
As enjoyable as that premise is, I found the pace to be a bit too slow. I enjoy a slow burn but I felt like we were going around in circles in the middle and the climax came really late in the book and thus felt a bit rushed to me.
A lot of their conversations were purposefully oblique which was consistent and did contribute to a certain tone but kind of started to grate on me by the end. I can see how it was necessary to the plot but I wished that the author had found another way to keep Arthur a bit in the dark until he was ready to understand .
March 22, 2013
Smoldering hot.
Bertie has got the slow burn down pat and poor Arthur is about to self-combust, and he's not alone. This is flirtation taken to the torture level; I think I held my breath for a good portion of the book.
Dear, precious Arthur. Bertie might be too considerate for such a shy soul, I know I wanted to bind them together until they finally resolved the tension. I had to be patient, which I despise, but eventually I was rewarded. Mercy.
This book requires hot chocolate and a good blankie to truly appreciate.
Bertie has got the slow burn down pat and poor Arthur is about to self-combust, and he's not alone. This is flirtation taken to the torture level; I think I held my breath for a good portion of the book.
Dear, precious Arthur. Bertie might be too considerate for such a shy soul, I know I wanted to bind them together until they finally resolved the tension. I had to be patient, which I despise, but eventually I was rewarded. Mercy.
This book requires hot chocolate and a good blankie to truly appreciate.
July 22, 2020
Slow paced and character driven. Most of the story takes place in the library of Bertie's home. Some of their conversations dragged a bit, or were a tad boring. Things start to heat up after 75% when Arthur finally opens himself up to Bertie. It is very sensual when Bertie and Arthur make love for the first and only time in this book. After, their sole focus is each other and it is staggering. My only niggle is that it could have come alot sooner.
A simple love story really, and memorable.
A simple love story really, and memorable.
September 15, 2016
After being charmed by the screwball vibe of Some Kind of Magic, I was totes ready to dive back into the Beings in Love series.
Like many others, I was ready to enjoy the romance between a fearsome but noble dragon shifter and the human who was the dragon's literal treasure.
Unfortunately, the story was so deeply unsatisfying that I ended up doing a mental about-face after I finished it.
Bertie, the dragon, was OK. I had a difficult time feeling any kind of empathy toward Arthur. He was, simply put, TSTL.
The pacing was glacial and the many possibilities that the story would've taken never came to fruition. Not recommended.
Like many others, I was ready to enjoy the romance between a fearsome but noble dragon shifter and the human who was the dragon's literal treasure.
Unfortunately, the story was so deeply unsatisfying that I ended up doing a mental about-face after I finished it.
Bertie, the dragon, was OK. I had a difficult time feeling any kind of empathy toward Arthur. He was, simply put, TSTL.
The pacing was glacial and the many possibilities that the story would've taken never came to fruition. Not recommended.
December 22, 2013
This is very slow-burn, mixed with confusion and self-doubt, to the nth degree. And it's still a really cute, sweet story of a nerdy research assistant hired by an untidy scholarly dragon to work on the dragon's book. Arthur the human's lack of self-worth is mostly sweet, Bertie the dragon's possessiveness and yet inability to speak his mind is hot and cute, and the story worked for me. One long, drawn-out talk to each other already! story, but with the human/dragon cultural differences there was a reason for the slowness, and the details were a lot of fun. A good comfort read.
January 31, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was a fun and original supernatural tale, set in an AU version of our modern world, where the presence of Beings has long since been revealed to, and (mostly) accepted by humans.
The story sees young, bright and financially troubled Arthur MacArthur, taking on a new job as the personal assistant to the intellectually brilliant and flirty dragon-shifter, Dr Philbert Jones. Bertie is a renowned historian. He’s also immensely disorganised when it comes to the order and state of his home. He needs someone like Arthur to help organise his surroundings and keep him focused on writing his latest book.
The story wasn’t overly eventful. It’s only occurring to me now, upon completion, that 90% of this book takes place in one setting (Bertie’s house – most prominently, in his lounge/library). This obviously didn’t bother me, seeing as I didn’t even notice while I was reading. But if you’re looking for a story with a lot of plot and adventure then this may not be for you, as most of the narrative revolves around Arthur and Bertie, hanging out in Bertie’s house, talking about history and books… and in the process, falling in love. That’s more than enough to entertain me.
I’m a shameless fan of shifter stories, and this particular tale provided me with my very first dragon-shifter experience. I’m not going to lie, I loved it! More dragons for me, please!!
This was a fun and original supernatural tale, set in an AU version of our modern world, where the presence of Beings has long since been revealed to, and (mostly) accepted by humans.
The story sees young, bright and financially troubled Arthur MacArthur, taking on a new job as the personal assistant to the intellectually brilliant and flirty dragon-shifter, Dr Philbert Jones. Bertie is a renowned historian. He’s also immensely disorganised when it comes to the order and state of his home. He needs someone like Arthur to help organise his surroundings and keep him focused on writing his latest book.
The story wasn’t overly eventful. It’s only occurring to me now, upon completion, that 90% of this book takes place in one setting (Bertie’s house – most prominently, in his lounge/library). This obviously didn’t bother me, seeing as I didn’t even notice while I was reading. But if you’re looking for a story with a lot of plot and adventure then this may not be for you, as most of the narrative revolves around Arthur and Bertie, hanging out in Bertie’s house, talking about history and books… and in the process, falling in love. That’s more than enough to entertain me.
I’m a shameless fan of shifter stories, and this particular tale provided me with my very first dragon-shifter experience. I’m not going to lie, I loved it! More dragons for me, please!!
April 26, 2014
Audiobook review:
My rating is purely for the story--a sweet romance between a young man, Arthur, and his dragon-shifter boss. There was plenty of interspecies angst, and when they finally got to the sexy times, there was definitely some bitey fun to be had there. I really enjoyed Cooper's worldbuilding and characters. I would recommend the book--in a readable format--to fans ofbitingshifter stories and fairy tales.
That said: the narration was too slow. I listened to the entire audiobook at 1.25 speed and it STILL felt slow. I also cringed every time Bertie spoke, because the fake English accent was more comical than sexy. It definitely created some dissonance when Arthur was going on and on about Bertie's sexy voice.
So, 4 stars for R Cooper's charming story, even if the audio recording was not my favorite.
My rating is purely for the story--a sweet romance between a young man, Arthur, and his dragon-shifter boss. There was plenty of interspecies angst, and when they finally got to the sexy times, there was definitely some bitey fun to be had there. I really enjoyed Cooper's worldbuilding and characters. I would recommend the book--in a readable format--to fans of
That said: the narration was too slow. I listened to the entire audiobook at 1.25 speed and it STILL felt slow. I also cringed every time Bertie spoke, because the fake English accent was more comical than sexy. It definitely created some dissonance when Arthur was going on and on about Bertie's sexy voice.
So, 4 stars for R Cooper's charming story, even if the audio recording was not my favorite.
June 22, 2019
More sweet slow fairytale than a firey Dragon-fic. I loved this standalone 'Being' fic.
The characters are sweet and I really liked the description of the dragon Bertie in his human form with scales shining like moonlight beneath the surface, also a dragon called Bertie!
Nothing really happens in the fic so don't pick this up hoping for excitement or you'll be disappointed. Basically there's house clearing, some sickness and protectiveness then at long last some sex and snuggles. It works in the way of a warm fuzzy blankie, a feel good you can wallow in without any stress over what happens next. It works for me; the brave unremarkable human and his doting dragon, I enjoyed it.
One aspect of the story did confuse me - the house had to be unkempt for Arthur to have a purpose there (his 'assistant' role appears to be more glorified 'housekeeper') but it did make me think how careless the dragon was of his 'treasures' these precious belongings supposed so important to him, even if not his true pearl.
The characters are sweet and I really liked the description of the dragon Bertie in his human form with scales shining like moonlight beneath the surface, also a dragon called Bertie!
Nothing really happens in the fic so don't pick this up hoping for excitement or you'll be disappointed. Basically there's house clearing, some sickness and protectiveness then at long last some sex and snuggles. It works in the way of a warm fuzzy blankie, a feel good you can wallow in without any stress over what happens next. It works for me; the brave unremarkable human and his doting dragon, I enjoyed it.
One aspect of the story did confuse me - the house had to be unkempt for Arthur to have a purpose there (his 'assistant' role appears to be more glorified 'housekeeper') but it did make me think how careless the dragon was of his 'treasures' these precious belongings supposed so important to him, even if not his true pearl.
November 20, 2020
This was a sweet story with almost no angst. It rambled on some and was a little boring but it was written much better than the first book in the series. It was almost as if a different writer had written it. There was a very clear voice for each character and you knew who was speaking and wasn't as confusing either.
I would've liked an epilogue to find out what happened after the MCs got together like: did Arthur and his sister move in with the dragon, did Arthur go back to school, did his sister get the job? I know they seem trivial but I would like some closure. It was still very sweet and honestly, I needed something sweet in my life.
I would've liked an epilogue to find out what happened after the MCs got together like: did Arthur and his sister move in with the dragon, did Arthur go back to school, did his sister get the job? I know they seem trivial but I would like some closure. It was still very sweet and honestly, I needed something sweet in my life.
January 11, 2013
3.4
It was like a Hugh Grant film: at times pleasing, at times funny and charming, at times the bumbling hesitance striking just the right tone, at times the bumbling hesitance dragging out much too long, at times too much going unsaid, at times too much being said but it being ramblings about unimportant things that seemingly have deeper meaning, at times somewhat romantic and sexy, always just short of fully satisfying.
It was like a Hugh Grant film: at times pleasing, at times funny and charming, at times the bumbling hesitance striking just the right tone, at times the bumbling hesitance dragging out much too long, at times too much going unsaid, at times too much being said but it being ramblings about unimportant things that seemingly have deeper meaning, at times somewhat romantic and sexy, always just short of fully satisfying.
March 2, 2016
Interesting, imaginative, and different, there is, nonetheless, something just off about R. Cooper's writing. I really liked the characters, and I enjoyed the uniqueness of the lore Cooper crafted, but the narrative wasn't something I could easily immerse myself in.
May 11, 2013
Goddamn this book is just what I needed. Will reread again very soon. <3
August 28, 2025
(3.5/5) The only words that come to mind are sweet and cosy.
The story was sweet, cosy and pretty uneventful. In a good way, though. There was a part in the middle where I wished the plot would move faster because I just don't have Bertie's patience, but then I really enjoyed the easy-going way the story was told. It was quite interesting, the history of the dragons and their love stories.
The story was sweet, cosy and pretty uneventful. In a good way, though. There was a part in the middle where I wished the plot would move faster because I just don't have Bertie's patience, but then I really enjoyed the easy-going way the story was told. It was quite interesting, the history of the dragons and their love stories.
March 3, 2022
Re-read March 3, 2022.
I still love it. It's long and rambles on at times, but it's a warm, comfort read to me.
Very slow burn.
4.5 rounded up
I still love it. It's long and rambles on at times, but it's a warm, comfort read to me.
Very slow burn.
4.5 rounded up
May 27, 2015
2015 Re-read:
This story is magical.
And I love every little bit of it.
And there is so much more to say but I am too overwhelmed to even attempt it. Besides, I seem to remember that I went into enough, blissed-out detail last time around.
All I need to do, now, is to hunt down that free, short follow-up from Bertie’s viewpoint which the author wrote and which I mysteriously failed to copy for preservation purposes. <3
2013 Review:
This is one of those books that I wish wouldn’t end. To my great pleasure it’s very long, but still not long enough. Then again, I probably just could keep reading on and on. The story’s definitely complete.
This time around I don’t have quite as much to say as about volume one of this series. Possibly because it’s damn near flawless. (Although book one was too, in slightly different ways.)
Bear in mind that I very recently read two other books by this author so I’ve had time to adjust to her style (and had time to grow to love it). I have no idea whether that makes a difference with this book since so far they’re all a little different from one another, even stylistically. Either way, I’m not stumbling over anything here.
On the whole, this one feels a lot more linear to me, a lot less mysterious or teasing by holding knowledge just out of reach. Might be because the narrator is human, so he is collecting information along with the reader (for the reader, really), and because he’s mentally stable. Or it’s just a slight shift in style.
I didn’t expect that it would make me laugh. But oh, it does. It’s a delight.
And I love this in particular: Usually in the typical romance, when the hero is sacrificing his life goals and his strength to take care of his sister, she’ll be a child maybe, or possibly disabled or tragically sick, or a combination of these. None of that sort of clichéd cuteness here.
All the same, this is so freaking adorable!
These guys are not stereotypes.
Bertie in particular is not anywhere near any of the stereotypes I have encountered so far. With his introduction you’d expect something very different from what he turns out to be, yet not. He’s a fascinating combination of aspects. Powerful dragon, flirty and sharp, whimsical and compassionate and unexpectedly vulnerable; he has this underlying dominant thing going, but with more than just a slight swish to it.
Arthur’s intriguing as well. There’s the meek, poor, starving boy – offset by being stern and mouthy and very, very proud; he’s humble, yet combative and fierce. His default reaction appears to be glaring and scowling and frowning to the point where I have to smile at each mention of it.
And this story’s utterly sweet because Bertie completely enslaves himself to Arthur. Possessive is an understatement but it’s well enough hidden under his easygoing ways until, well, it’s no longer hidden.
I find this amusing, too, since it’s a dragon thing, whereas extreme possessiveness is something stories usually employ for wolf shifters – which makes much less sense, considering wolves are actually more of a communal bend, aside from ranking. Wolves should be about community, sharing, about “together”, whereas the lore strikes me as depicting dragons as utterly possessive and solitary in nature.
There’s an absolutely heart-stopping sex scene, too. A full one this time, with all the explicit details, yet with its own phrasing, which by itself might be somewhat repetitive (repetition that enhances impact, rather than makes it seem unimaginative to me) but doesn’t employ the standard phrases that saturate the genre.
There was, in fact only a single thing in the entire book that made me tilt my head and even now I don’t quite get it. Maybe I am missing something. I just can’t explain this to myself. So yeah. One tiny moment of “huh?” in this entire, deliciously long book.
I’m insanely lucky these days.
This story is magical.
And I love every little bit of it.
And there is so much more to say but I am too overwhelmed to even attempt it. Besides, I seem to remember that I went into enough, blissed-out detail last time around.
All I need to do, now, is to hunt down that free, short follow-up from Bertie’s viewpoint which the author wrote and which I mysteriously failed to copy for preservation purposes. <3
2013 Review:
This is one of those books that I wish wouldn’t end. To my great pleasure it’s very long, but still not long enough. Then again, I probably just could keep reading on and on. The story’s definitely complete.
This time around I don’t have quite as much to say as about volume one of this series. Possibly because it’s damn near flawless. (Although book one was too, in slightly different ways.)
Bear in mind that I very recently read two other books by this author so I’ve had time to adjust to her style (and had time to grow to love it). I have no idea whether that makes a difference with this book since so far they’re all a little different from one another, even stylistically. Either way, I’m not stumbling over anything here.
On the whole, this one feels a lot more linear to me, a lot less mysterious or teasing by holding knowledge just out of reach. Might be because the narrator is human, so he is collecting information along with the reader (for the reader, really), and because he’s mentally stable. Or it’s just a slight shift in style.
I didn’t expect that it would make me laugh. But oh, it does. It’s a delight.
And I love this in particular: Usually in the typical romance, when the hero is sacrificing his life goals and his strength to take care of his sister, she’ll be a child maybe, or possibly disabled or tragically sick, or a combination of these. None of that sort of clichéd cuteness here.
All the same, this is so freaking adorable!
These guys are not stereotypes.
Bertie in particular is not anywhere near any of the stereotypes I have encountered so far. With his introduction you’d expect something very different from what he turns out to be, yet not. He’s a fascinating combination of aspects. Powerful dragon, flirty and sharp, whimsical and compassionate and unexpectedly vulnerable; he has this underlying dominant thing going, but with more than just a slight swish to it.
Arthur’s intriguing as well. There’s the meek, poor, starving boy – offset by being stern and mouthy and very, very proud; he’s humble, yet combative and fierce. His default reaction appears to be glaring and scowling and frowning to the point where I have to smile at each mention of it.
And this story’s utterly sweet because Bertie completely enslaves himself to Arthur. Possessive is an understatement but it’s well enough hidden under his easygoing ways until, well, it’s no longer hidden.
I find this amusing, too, since it’s a dragon thing, whereas extreme possessiveness is something stories usually employ for wolf shifters – which makes much less sense, considering wolves are actually more of a communal bend, aside from ranking. Wolves should be about community, sharing, about “together”, whereas the lore strikes me as depicting dragons as utterly possessive and solitary in nature.
There’s an absolutely heart-stopping sex scene, too. A full one this time, with all the explicit details, yet with its own phrasing, which by itself might be somewhat repetitive (repetition that enhances impact, rather than makes it seem unimaginative to me) but doesn’t employ the standard phrases that saturate the genre.
There was, in fact only a single thing in the entire book that made me tilt my head and even now I don’t quite get it. Maybe I am missing something. I just can’t explain this to myself. So yeah. One tiny moment of “huh?” in this entire, deliciously long book.
I’m insanely lucky these days.
February 26, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
When I decided to review this book, I didn't realize that it was the sequel to R Cooper's Some Kind of Magic. I had intended to read that book at some point, but even though I got it when it was released I never read it. This book seemed more interesting to me, however, because of the dragon. I love dragon shifters and I can't stay away from any book that looks like it might have one. So I decided to read both of these books, and as it turned out, I ended up liking the first book better than this one, despite the yummy dragon man.
A Boy and His Dragon opens as Arthur MacArthur visits the home of Dr. Philbert Jones, a historian to interview for a position as his research assistant. Arthur is working towards a degree in history himself and has a real love of learning and an academic mind, but family problems and lack of money have forced him to take a student sabbatical until he can find a way out of his debts and support himself and his sister with enough money left over to return to his studies. This job, then, is perfect. While he has two other jobs, they're part-time and don't challenge him the way he needs to be, and a research job is just what he needs to keep his career on track.
Arthur is also a normal human. Living in a world where the paranormal is normal (at least for the last 70 some-odd years), means that there is familiarity and misinformation alongside one another. Humans mostly still know very little about Beings, at least on a day to day basis. Arthur is a an example of this. Knowing that his potential employer is a dragon, he makes and keeps an ongoing list of things he knows about dragons, which is very small and somewhat misinformed. Despite his personal curiosity, this job means a lot to Arthur because of his need to protect and care for his sister. But when he meets Philbert, "Bertie", he finds another reason to care about the job -- caring about the dragon himself. They're fairly opposite, obvious signs notwithstanding, but they soon learn to care for one another as Arthur spends his days organizing Bertie's book collection.
The writing itself in this book is very good. Readers who have read the first book in the series, Some Kind of Magic, will find it similar. The story is firmly set apart from that book, there's almost no connection whatsoever, besides the world, so there's really no need to read the books in any certain order. Mostly, however, readers will find this book very different from it's predecessor, mainly in that this book isn't a mystery. There is one overarching choice the author makes, however, that is the same in both books, and it is something that bothered me in both of them. The romantic tension is created by severe miscommunication, all bolstered and made more authentic by the fact that the Beings and Humans and the different types of Beings don't understand one another. Still, I found this to be a rather fragile and thin excuse.
I read quite a few short stories because of my weekly reviews at Brief Encounters and one of the biggest problems I find in short stories is the excess of plot for a short format. This book had the opposite problem -- I felt like there wasn't enough plot for the size of this book, which made the story drag for me, throughout most of the book. The miscommunication and desire of the characters (especially Arthur) to do what they think is best for everyone else without talking it over with anyone else first (I hate that), is used to draw out the story into a longer work. I felt a bit like I was waiting and waiting for something to happen.
Others might like this story more. The writing, like I said before, is good, I just tend not to enjoy stories focused solely on the relationship and the added (very) slow place compounded that problem for me. For some reason, while I liked them, I didn't find the characters engaging enough to overcome that problem. So it was really only a so so book for me. I'm still looking forward to reading more of this author's work, however, and hopefully that book will be more to my personal taste in style.
When I decided to review this book, I didn't realize that it was the sequel to R Cooper's Some Kind of Magic. I had intended to read that book at some point, but even though I got it when it was released I never read it. This book seemed more interesting to me, however, because of the dragon. I love dragon shifters and I can't stay away from any book that looks like it might have one. So I decided to read both of these books, and as it turned out, I ended up liking the first book better than this one, despite the yummy dragon man.
A Boy and His Dragon opens as Arthur MacArthur visits the home of Dr. Philbert Jones, a historian to interview for a position as his research assistant. Arthur is working towards a degree in history himself and has a real love of learning and an academic mind, but family problems and lack of money have forced him to take a student sabbatical until he can find a way out of his debts and support himself and his sister with enough money left over to return to his studies. This job, then, is perfect. While he has two other jobs, they're part-time and don't challenge him the way he needs to be, and a research job is just what he needs to keep his career on track.
Arthur is also a normal human. Living in a world where the paranormal is normal (at least for the last 70 some-odd years), means that there is familiarity and misinformation alongside one another. Humans mostly still know very little about Beings, at least on a day to day basis. Arthur is a an example of this. Knowing that his potential employer is a dragon, he makes and keeps an ongoing list of things he knows about dragons, which is very small and somewhat misinformed. Despite his personal curiosity, this job means a lot to Arthur because of his need to protect and care for his sister. But when he meets Philbert, "Bertie", he finds another reason to care about the job -- caring about the dragon himself. They're fairly opposite, obvious signs notwithstanding, but they soon learn to care for one another as Arthur spends his days organizing Bertie's book collection.
The writing itself in this book is very good. Readers who have read the first book in the series, Some Kind of Magic, will find it similar. The story is firmly set apart from that book, there's almost no connection whatsoever, besides the world, so there's really no need to read the books in any certain order. Mostly, however, readers will find this book very different from it's predecessor, mainly in that this book isn't a mystery. There is one overarching choice the author makes, however, that is the same in both books, and it is something that bothered me in both of them. The romantic tension is created by severe miscommunication, all bolstered and made more authentic by the fact that the Beings and Humans and the different types of Beings don't understand one another. Still, I found this to be a rather fragile and thin excuse.
I read quite a few short stories because of my weekly reviews at Brief Encounters and one of the biggest problems I find in short stories is the excess of plot for a short format. This book had the opposite problem -- I felt like there wasn't enough plot for the size of this book, which made the story drag for me, throughout most of the book. The miscommunication and desire of the characters (especially Arthur) to do what they think is best for everyone else without talking it over with anyone else first (I hate that), is used to draw out the story into a longer work. I felt a bit like I was waiting and waiting for something to happen.
Others might like this story more. The writing, like I said before, is good, I just tend not to enjoy stories focused solely on the relationship and the added (very) slow place compounded that problem for me. For some reason, while I liked them, I didn't find the characters engaging enough to overcome that problem. So it was really only a so so book for me. I'm still looking forward to reading more of this author's work, however, and hopefully that book will be more to my personal taste in style.
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