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The Rose and the Dragon #2
Dragon in Chains
In this sequel to THE ROSE AND THE DRAGON, the Andrus clan attempts to return to peacetime. Though Imperial Law has forbidden their marriage, Kitten Andrus openly declares his feelings for Miranda Wilson, but uncertain times lie ahead for the lovers. Amid the joy of son Niki's long-awaited betrothal to his adored Ardala, Dominic Andrus' plan to transform his family into law-abiding citizens is destroyed when Imperial Detective Synubis invades the House of Andrus and arrests Kit, Dom, and Niki. Taken into protective custody and separated from those she trusts, Miranda finds herself the Prosecution's chief witness and must summon every ounce of courage to enable her to brave an alien justice system where the truth can convict the man she loves of a crime he didn't commit, and only a miracle-or a long-hidden secret-can save him . . .
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Toni V. Sweeney
93 books45 followersToni V. Sweeney a.k.a. T.S. Snow and Savannah Scarborough
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 28, 2015
Having read the author’s previous book, The Rose and the Dragon, I was looking forward to reading this sequel and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. In fact I actually enjoyed Dragon in Chains more than the first book. I think the major reason is Toni Sweeney hasn’t tried to simply replicate her original work but rather has written something more poignant as she follows the lives of the Andrus family. Whilst the pace is slower with less emphasis on the sci-fi, there is more depth, more tension this time. The tale begin in the middle of domestic harmony, a mixture of high tech comfort, wealth, a loving relationship between Miranda and Kit and love from the rest of the family (Miranda is even asked to be a belema, a bridesmaid, by Ardala) but we soon find ourselves in the middle of a political/ courtroom drama after an old enemy, Lieutenant Ceran Synubis, arrests Kit and pressures Miranda into helping the prosecution, telling her, “I mean to get the Andruses this time, Miranda Wilson, and you're going to help me do it.”
I can’t pretend I followed every political, legal or Machiavellian intricacy perfectly but I found the unfolding of events very engaging as the reader experiences much of it from Miranda’s perspective. And we are often all too aware our female protagonist is the outsider. Although she refers to Kit as “my darling, darling extra-terrestrial! ‘ it is she who is the E.T. in this tale, the outsider, the one from another world. She is on Gataeus, not Earth. Her fair, delicate Terran skin clearly marks her out as an outsider compared to the darker skinned Gataens.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the reader is left wondering just how on Earth (or rather Gataeus) they are going to get out of this one.
A great read and not just for sci-fi fans.
I can’t pretend I followed every political, legal or Machiavellian intricacy perfectly but I found the unfolding of events very engaging as the reader experiences much of it from Miranda’s perspective. And we are often all too aware our female protagonist is the outsider. Although she refers to Kit as “my darling, darling extra-terrestrial! ‘ it is she who is the E.T. in this tale, the outsider, the one from another world. She is on Gataeus, not Earth. Her fair, delicate Terran skin clearly marks her out as an outsider compared to the darker skinned Gataens.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the reader is left wondering just how on Earth (or rather Gataeus) they are going to get out of this one.
A great read and not just for sci-fi fans.
March 29, 2021
Well written and very entertaining.
October 1, 2021
I am glad I got to find out what happened to Miranda, Kit and the others. So many were after them, especially the triplets because they have something special. The family must band together to ensure their safety and loyalty of the members.
The narrator voiced both books in the duet very well. There was much emotion and enthusiasm.
The narrator voiced both books in the duet very well. There was much emotion and enthusiasm.
June 1, 2025
This was a good continuation of the first book, and it ended well. A man loves a woman who he could not marry because they were different species, and they had a law against it, but there was a surprise at the end.
February 28, 2014
This is a sslyblog.wordpress.com review...please visit the site! This book was provided to me at no charge, for a fair and honest review.
The sequel to the Rose and the Dragon by Sweeney, Dragon in Chains provides another great read. Note: you must read the first novel to understand this one. This book is quite different from the action packed first novel, instead focusing on Miranda Wilson’s assimilation into Gataen culture. There are many misunderstandings, lessons, and acceptance of the cultural differences. In all honesty, I wasn’t 100% sure where the book was going…and then I got to the end. I loved, loved, loved the end of this book. It was an absolute, perfect conclusion- and I won’t say anymore for risk of ruining things.
While a family tree would certainly be helpful in understanding the complex (and sometimes confusing) relationships between characters, they are all easy to relate to, all with complete personalities and backgrounds. Each family member is a fully fleshed out character, and not just a shadow written in to keep place. I really liked that fact, as too many authors create cardboard constructs to haunt the background of their books.
My suggestion? Purchase both books, and read them immediately one after the other. You will get the most out of the story, and have a really great time reading them. I promise you won’t be disappointed by Sweeney’s work. I did bump this novel down to a four, rather than a five star (which I gave the first one) because I really was a bit confused in the beginning of the book about where Sweeney was taking us. However, I should have had faith….in reality, it is a glimpse into an alien society, and a very real presentation on how a person might find their own place in that society. The other reason I downgraded it to a four start was because I didn’t understand Miranda’s attitude towards what she perceived to be a homosexual relationship; she was okay with finding herself in an alien culture, but was still distressed with the thought of a marriage between the two? I didn’t think that was consistent with her character at all. It was a teeny, tiny part of the book- but it’s a hot topic, and just seemed a bit of a silly thing for Miranda to even think twice about.
Anyway, all that aside! Do yourselves a favor and read about the further adventures of Miranda and the Andrus family!
3/5 flames for hotness!
The sequel to the Rose and the Dragon by Sweeney, Dragon in Chains provides another great read. Note: you must read the first novel to understand this one. This book is quite different from the action packed first novel, instead focusing on Miranda Wilson’s assimilation into Gataen culture. There are many misunderstandings, lessons, and acceptance of the cultural differences. In all honesty, I wasn’t 100% sure where the book was going…and then I got to the end. I loved, loved, loved the end of this book. It was an absolute, perfect conclusion- and I won’t say anymore for risk of ruining things.
While a family tree would certainly be helpful in understanding the complex (and sometimes confusing) relationships between characters, they are all easy to relate to, all with complete personalities and backgrounds. Each family member is a fully fleshed out character, and not just a shadow written in to keep place. I really liked that fact, as too many authors create cardboard constructs to haunt the background of their books.
My suggestion? Purchase both books, and read them immediately one after the other. You will get the most out of the story, and have a really great time reading them. I promise you won’t be disappointed by Sweeney’s work. I did bump this novel down to a four, rather than a five star (which I gave the first one) because I really was a bit confused in the beginning of the book about where Sweeney was taking us. However, I should have had faith….in reality, it is a glimpse into an alien society, and a very real presentation on how a person might find their own place in that society. The other reason I downgraded it to a four start was because I didn’t understand Miranda’s attitude towards what she perceived to be a homosexual relationship; she was okay with finding herself in an alien culture, but was still distressed with the thought of a marriage between the two? I didn’t think that was consistent with her character at all. It was a teeny, tiny part of the book- but it’s a hot topic, and just seemed a bit of a silly thing for Miranda to even think twice about.
Anyway, all that aside! Do yourselves a favor and read about the further adventures of Miranda and the Andrus family!
3/5 flames for hotness!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews