Having annoyed the council, Grunk is assigned the job of Director of Human/Dragon Relations. Unfortunately for Grunk, he hates the city, he'd rather be in his dragon form than his human one, and he already hates the job even though it’s only his first day.
Then he meets his assistant, Kyfan, and he's instantly smitten. When he finds out that Kyfan has never really flown and rarely spends any time in his dragon form, Grunk is shocked and insists on changing that, immediately. After all, flying with the lovely Kyfan's way better than sitting behind his desk in his office.
It turns out that Kyfan is a lovely little dragon and once they've flown together, Grunk knows that they share a bond and he prepares to make his claim. The fact that it's going to annoy the council is only a bonus.
Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
4.25 stars Sean Michael writing about dragon shifters is an irresistible draw-card if you ask me. So to all lovers of dragons, you don't want to miss this steamy, sweet, adorable, wee dragon story. Kyfan is a special little dragon and Grunk makes things happen. His darling will experience all the joys he's missed out on, I'm so happy, big kiss. The perfect mood lifter, I loved it. I hope the author continues and makes this a series. Recommended.
There was a lot of shenanigans going on here and I really enjoyed the world-building. Wonderful chemistry with a hint of otherworld here. I loved being in Grunk's head and Kyfan was adorable. They make a great pairing.
Even with the solid HEA I couldn't help but feel that there was more to this story, especially with Redic's motivations. I'd love to read more about the characters and really...who isn't up for more dragon sex?
Dragon Shifters? Did I hear Dragon Shifters? I did and I was on this one in a heartbeat.
Kyfan is an efficient assistant and has worked for the president for years and years, but he's bored so he asked for a transfer to the office of the Director of Human/Dragon Relations. Little did the small, unassuming and innocent dragon know this was going to be the best decision of his life. Grunk isn't happy about having to take this job as Director, he loves his lair and his mountains and just being in his dragon form, so the city with its smells and humans and congestion is not to his liking. He's grumpy and annoyed, but that's about to change. He meets his sweet and unassuming assistant Kyfan and after a brief conversation realizes he hasn't shifted in forever and has never flown, he decides that needs to change right this very minute. Grunk is definitely a force to be reckoned with and Kyfan doesn't even try to fight the inevitable. He goes along with the big powerful Dragon and flies for the first time. It's in dragon form they discover they are heartmates. That really starts the mate pull, possessiveness and sexual attraction between them. They are both well past the age of finding their heartmates so the happiness at it finally happening is huge and especially for little Kyfan who never seemed to be important for anyone, but now he is the most important thing in the world for his big dragon mate. All the rumbles, purrs and roars, smexy happenings and shiny treasures in their lairs, all add up to make me a happy Mandy. The world building was good, if not enough for my liking, but of course it's a short story and that limits the possibilities. I also wanted to know what was up with Redic, Kyfan's boss, why is he such an arrogant asshat? And why did Grunk have to take this job? What will the council say to the bonding? Are they secret matchmakers? This had a definite Happy End, but I sure would love more of them and this dragon-human world that Sean Michael created.
I am starting to think, thanks to Megan Derr and Mell Eight, I have been spoiled for all other Dragon fics.
The setting I assume was present day, but apart from the references to lifts and Sky scrapers I’d of never known.
There was no Human interaction in this story, despite Grunk’s job being a Director of Human/ Dragon Relations.
We are given a quick half hearted explanation for Kyfan not shifting or flying for hundreds of years, but I never really understood it. Just something along the lines of him being to small and too different.
Overall we just got a load of Grunk whining and moaning, then a lot of Grunk feeling all happy and feely, with a side of Grunk getting angry and grumpy.
The sex I was not expecting to work for me, and in that I was right. The ending sex was not much better.
Sorry this just failed to draw me in.
Oh and as for Grunks full name? Am I the only one that found that ridiculous?
2,5* upgrade because I like the cover... Maybe my expectations were to high this is the same mate-sex-mine-sex-bond-sex-... shifter-story only with dragons.
This one was brought to me by Vio -- unfortunately, dear Vio, I had to agree with Tailtiu on this one. In the beginning (first chapter), it was really good. I found the characters to be intriguing. I loved the idea of Dragon-Human Relations Department (!) and then when Grunk and Kyfan were flying, it was wonderful.
Unfortunately, it then turned into the same-old-shifter-mate-mine-yours story (just replaced the "mine" with some strange word, "Shian", and "heartmate" with "Steron"). Because Grunk decided that his young assistant was his and he wouldn't let anyone say otherwise. I liked the premise; I would love to know more about the work of Dragon-Human Relations Department, for example. But what I got was You're mine, I'm yours, You're so beautiful, rinse, repeat, end scene. All the growls and roars couldn't excite me much *shrugs*.
I still gave it a 3-stars because the set-up was promising, even if what followed wasn't...
Well this was my first dragon shifter story and I really don't know what to think. It was cute and enjoyable, I just don't know if dragon shifters are my thing.
Flying with Dragons is a relatively quick, mindlessly easy read. The writing is smooth but the plot is rather threadbare. Sure it's paranormal as well, but this is definitely romance; the magic and mythology and whatnot really are just a backdrop. The world is quite solidly built and a hazy picture is painted in your mind, however the novel does not focus on adding the little details that perhaps would've made this novel more substantial and interesting. The mythology and world were new - though not quite original - and I would've loved to see more of it.
This isn't the most realistic book. The development of the relationship and the characters is quite flat and typical to those of MM shifter books, I've noticed. It's bordering insta-love (not that you can really have anything else with the size of this) and the characters are stereotypically depicted in relation to their preferred position top/ bottom. But hell, despite all that unrealistic bullshit, I'm really just nitpicking. The reason I picked this book up was to have fun and escape a life where Prince Charming isn't rockin' up to sweep me off my feet on his white steed. In fact, if he were actually real, an accurate scenario would probably be that he stole the white steed to run the fuck away from me.
But anyway, going back on track... one of the things that actually bugged me was when Grunk said to sweet, cute Kyfan "Sorry I made you wait for me." [to come into your life] as if, as the 'top' and dominant of the relationship, the righteous duty of bringing them together fell on him and only him. As if sweet little Kyfan had to wait like a fucking princess in his bloody tower for Prince fucking Grunk to sweep him away. I don't care if Kyfan is portrayed as very gentle and malleable and a totally innocent bottom. It should also be Kyfan's right to sweep Prince fucking Grunk off his feet too and to suggest otherwise is extremely derogatory. So much for being soulmates.
And not only that, Grunk called Kyfan 'Kyf-Shian' (abbreviated to simply Shian) which apparently means Kyf-mine in dragon tongue. And yet Kyfan calls Grunk the honorific for one's heartmate are, 'Steron', which apparently can also mean king of my heart, master of the hearth. I'm not sure about you, but I'm seeing these very clear and distinctive roles that I personally don't like, not really feeling the partnership here. While I was reading, the word Steron was often - and subconsciously- substituted with ''Master' (which works perfectly in context).
But anyway, I don't know why I'm pretty much ranting, especially since I enjoyed the book a lot. Perhaps I'm feeling particularly vindictive.
Despite there being aspects of the character I didn't quite like or approve of, I can whole heartedly say that I enjoyed reading about them and in Grunk's perspective. Being quite unfamiliar with human civilisation and surroundings, his POV was amusing and fun to read in -though with one small inconsistency that jumped out at me. Kyfan was sweet and loveable and described as quite the little exotic creature. Being a fan of BDSM, I couldn't help but notice that he'd make a lovely submissive..... but I think I'll refrain from mentioning my perversions any further.
The actual development of their love was unrealistic but it still managed to be warm and heartening... And anyway, I wasn't expecting it to be some grand, slow burn.
Overall this was a fun and sweet read; unrealistic and unbelievable with big niggles if you think it through, but honestly just an enjoyable read. If this is part of a series, I would continue it, especially if I actually get to see Grunk dealing with his job and all those icky humans. Hah, dragons, gotta love 'em.
I love Sean Michael and I love books with dragon shifters so I figured I would enjoy this one...and I did.
It's quite short but it's smutty and sweet and has dragony sex so what more could you want? A longer story! I was very entertained for the duration. It had enough "dragonesque" to make me fell like I was reading a fantasy tale. I would have enjoyed more time with the characters - there could be so much developed in their world. I was seriously bummed when I got to the last word because I wanted to spend a lot longer with those two.
This was a delight to read albeit quite short! I'm partial to dragon stories so I enjoyed this one. Fun, sweet, light-hearted and sizzling hot. I'm specially fond of Grunk's personality and his dragon ways slipping out when he is in his human form. Kyfan was adorable. I wished for the story to be longer to know more about this world.
Hope there is a sequel. More more of this please! I was wondering what will happen with the dragon council and Redic's motivation for what he did. It doesn't look like simple jealousy to me. Hmmmmm.
Two dragon shifters falling for each other. I don't know what else could be more magical.
Grunk has been assigned for a new post as a government official. He is not happy about this as he prefers living as a dragon in the mountains over spending time as a human in the city. But when he gets to his office he meets Kyfan his assistant. Kyfan has lived his life in the city and it has been centuries since he last shifted and has never flown as a dragon. Grunk immediately sets out to correct these wrongs. In the process they recognize that they are bondmates.
If you enjoy reading about dragon mythology and want to see two dragons falling for each other then you may like this book.
It seems to be the month of the dragon, but I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, even though I think there was so much more that could have been added. It's set in an alternative reality where dragons presence among humans is "normal". The biggest joy in this story however was Grunk. He's just kind of surly, hates that he has to do this new job for the council and it's his little internal dialogue like being hopeful when he sees Kyfan sitting in the office that maybe they've found someone else for the job and he can get out of it. Or his shock and incomprehension of the fact that Kyfan hasn't shifted in decades and has never really flown, because Grunk can't fathom that kind of life for a dragon and he's determined to right it immediately.
It's typical Sean Michael in that you have the strong dominant type male, with the smaller nervous virginal bottom, but that is part of why I enjoy this particular author, so if that's what you are in the mood for it's a good choice. So while I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between the two, watching Kyfan who was "old" for someone to have found their heart-mate realize that despite being odd for a dragon, someone loved him, there was so much more that could have been fleshed out.
Why was Grunk in trouble with the council? Was it just his surly attitude? What about Kyfan's background and his current conflict with his supervisor who has been jealous of Kyfan. There was also the process of telling the council about their bonding and what that means. So I was definitely left wanting more of this world, or more of Grunk more or less grudgingly following the rules so they'll stop bothering him. However despite that, I still enjoyed this a great deal and found myself smiling several times through-out, so if you like dragons, this is another good selection this week
Dragons integrated with a human society? Tell us more about this world. Mr. Michael is stingy with the world building. The reader only knows there is a stodgy dragon council and dragons interact with humans. In this cute as a button tale, Grunk is the proverbial crotchety old dragon forced to liaison with humans. This punishment turns into the best case scenario when he meets the delicious Kyfan. Kyfan is also a dragon but one who stays in human form for decades.
This story of finding a soulmate to blend their heartsong is adorable. While reading the story, Kyfan reminds me of Ruth in Anne McCaffrey's Pern series. Any tale which lets me happily reminisce of Ms. McCaffrey's Pern series is an automatic enjoyable read.
The way Mr. Michael designs his dragons stays true to many dragon lore. This is good for me and helped make the story a lovely page turning read. Recommended for m/m lovers who want their very own dragon.
If you're looking for a super-cute book about dragon shifters, this one should make your list. There aren't any major adventures to follow, but the quiet humor, tongue-in cheek references to an obnoxious Dragon Council who have no clue what they're doing, and a dragon mate who is adorably insecure are just the perfect combination to make this an entertaining, and very hot read.
First of all, I tend to love all things Dragon. This book was recommended and I decided to give it a try. The setting is in a society where Dragons live among humans. Grunk has been assigned the job of Dragon/Human liaison. The story alludes to Grunk being assigned this job as punishment. We do not know what he has done to deserve punishment other than he appears headstrong and a Dragon that prefers to keep to himself and live in his natural form. His first day on the job he meets his assistant Kyfan. Kyfan is described as small, beautiful with white hair and eyes that change colors. Kyfan has lived in his human form for a very long time and has not changed into Dragon form in many years or flown. Grunk finds this appalling and sets out to remedy this immediately. Grunk feels an immediate attraction to the smaller Dragon. Grunk is powerful, confident and thoroughly more comfortable in his natural form where Kyfan is smaller, lacks confidence and feels inadequate in his Dragon form. I thought the story complemented both of them.
The story moves quickly as Grunk and Kyfan interact. I enjoyed the way Dragon society is presented, it feels untamed when presented from Grunks view point. I thought the romance moved almost too quickly, but it is a short story. I would have loved to have more background about Grunk and Dragon culture.
It was a fun story with a glimpse into a Dragon world that I would enjoy reading more about.
Sweet story with great main characters. I loved the different slant on the dragon's existence but the story was too short! It needed a little more world building and fleshing out of the story. I hope there is more to come.
A short sweet romance between two dragon shifters. Grunk has been dragged into a government job as Director of Human/Dragon Relations. Entering his office he finds his personal assistant Kyfan. He's drawn to the smaller dragon and the two quickly realize that the fates have brought them together.
This was cute (and I love the cover!) but it left me wanting more. Also, a personal issue for me, I'm not a fan of pet names, and in here they aren't even normal pet names.