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Dark Age Trilogy #0
Dragon Essence
The Gods will be Conquered.
A lover lost in battle. An offer she can't refuse. A price she might not be able to pay.
When Andra, a Captain in the formidable Dragon Guard, sees her lover killed in a vicious wizard duel, a grizzled half-mage offers a chance to bring her back from the dead.
But the offer is not without a price.
Torn between her honour and her heart, Andra has until first light to obtain the life essence of a dragon she has sworn to protect or lose the woman she loves forever.
This is a short prequel story to the epic fantasy trilogy, Dark Age, set in a world of knights and magic, where dragons are worshipped as Gods. For lovers of Game of Thrones, Skyrim, and kick-ass women-warriors who battle dragons.
A lover lost in battle. An offer she can't refuse. A price she might not be able to pay.
When Andra, a Captain in the formidable Dragon Guard, sees her lover killed in a vicious wizard duel, a grizzled half-mage offers a chance to bring her back from the dead.
But the offer is not without a price.
Torn between her honour and her heart, Andra has until first light to obtain the life essence of a dragon she has sworn to protect or lose the woman she loves forever.
This is a short prequel story to the epic fantasy trilogy, Dark Age, set in a world of knights and magic, where dragons are worshipped as Gods. For lovers of Game of Thrones, Skyrim, and kick-ass women-warriors who battle dragons.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2018
23 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Niamh Murphy
12 books156 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Niamh Murphy is a historian and novelist specialising in romantic lesbian fiction. She is passionate about experimenting with different genres and has a fondness for romantic action and adventure. She has written stories with vampires, werewolves, elves, magic, knights, sorceresses, and witches as well as contemporary and humorous stories, but always with a lesbian protagonist and a romantic element to the tale.
Visit her website for a free book: www.AuthorNiamh.com
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Niamh Murphy is a historian and novelist specialising in romantic lesbian fiction. She is passionate about experimenting with different genres and has a fondness for romantic action and adventure. She has written stories with vampires, werewolves, elves, magic, knights, sorceresses, and witches as well as contemporary and humorous stories, but always with a lesbian protagonist and a romantic element to the tale.
Visit her website for a free book: www.AuthorNiamh.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 11, 2018
I received a free copy from the author for my honest review.
Dragon Essence isn't something that I would typically read, since discovering the author's writing from another one of her short story Gretel and like with J.F. Penn, just really love her writing.
I like author Niamh Murphy, writing for the escapism, her imagination, the excellent paced stories, vivid characters, she even can make you like bad characters, being historical, puts you in the pages and the lesbian romance parts are at the minimal or a background to the over all story.
With Dragon Essence, it's a prequel where the author lays an excellent foundation to build the rest of the trilogy on and can't wait to read the first book in the trilogy.
How can you not like both main characters. Andra, a Captain in the Dragon Guard and her struggle over honoring her job or disregarding it for love. Or Olwen with her magical powers, she hungrier's to wrestle power from those that have it and for the better of the people.
Niamh packs this one with an overload of action, adventure, suspense, twist and turns, then mix in dragons, mages, druids, magic, dwarfs and add a love story to it.
Definitely give Niamh Murphy a try, the lesbian romance is at a minimal, so if that's not your thing, it doesn't hurt the over all story and definitely will read more of her books.
Dragon Essence isn't something that I would typically read, since discovering the author's writing from another one of her short story Gretel and like with J.F. Penn, just really love her writing.
I like author Niamh Murphy, writing for the escapism, her imagination, the excellent paced stories, vivid characters, she even can make you like bad characters, being historical, puts you in the pages and the lesbian romance parts are at the minimal or a background to the over all story.
With Dragon Essence, it's a prequel where the author lays an excellent foundation to build the rest of the trilogy on and can't wait to read the first book in the trilogy.
How can you not like both main characters. Andra, a Captain in the Dragon Guard and her struggle over honoring her job or disregarding it for love. Or Olwen with her magical powers, she hungrier's to wrestle power from those that have it and for the better of the people.
Niamh packs this one with an overload of action, adventure, suspense, twist and turns, then mix in dragons, mages, druids, magic, dwarfs and add a love story to it.
Definitely give Niamh Murphy a try, the lesbian romance is at a minimal, so if that's not your thing, it doesn't hurt the over all story and definitely will read more of her books.
November 17, 2018
Very good! Great introduction to what seems to be a very entertaining series.
December 28, 2018
Andra loves Olwen but Olwen loves power more. A Druid Captain of the Guard and a Wizard Mage. Myrddym's older and wiser and Olwen's got to fight her to get what she needs; more magic, more power.
It's a story introducing characters into a larger than life epic adventure of loss, friendship, love, and battle.
Miss Murphy paints a story where magic tingles, hangs in the air, fills a space, blinds the eyes, and kills. I felt the darkness, sensed the dragon's pain. It's a well written story that I can only tell you to read because to write any more would spoil it.
It's a story introducing characters into a larger than life epic adventure of loss, friendship, love, and battle.
Miss Murphy paints a story where magic tingles, hangs in the air, fills a space, blinds the eyes, and kills. I felt the darkness, sensed the dragon's pain. It's a well written story that I can only tell you to read because to write any more would spoil it.
March 20, 2018
Packed with plenty of adventure and action.
The author packs alot of action and adventure into a relatively short story; I didn't expect so much to happen in so few pages. From the opening scene, the reader is pulled into the drama which only increases in intensity and suspense as the story progresses. In addition, there is humor and several very strong female characters at the center of the story.
The groundwork is laid here for what could be an epic and long running series of stories populated by dragons, mages, druids and more. It's a page turner and one that has me curious to see how the rest of the series will go; based on the structure and setting/climate of Dragon Essence, the subsequent stories could go in several directions either building further on what happens here or broadening out to cover more territory in this fantastical world of mages, magic and dragons.
The author packs alot of action and adventure into a relatively short story; I didn't expect so much to happen in so few pages. From the opening scene, the reader is pulled into the drama which only increases in intensity and suspense as the story progresses. In addition, there is humor and several very strong female characters at the center of the story.
The groundwork is laid here for what could be an epic and long running series of stories populated by dragons, mages, druids and more. It's a page turner and one that has me curious to see how the rest of the series will go; based on the structure and setting/climate of Dragon Essence, the subsequent stories could go in several directions either building further on what happens here or broadening out to cover more territory in this fantastical world of mages, magic and dragons.
March 25, 2018
Wow! This short prequel starts off with a bang, that’s for sure. Andra, a captain in the Dragon Guard, is torn between duty and love. She has to decide whether to resurrect her fallen lover, Olwen. This would take going against her oaths and her integrity.
While I like the character Andra and her inner struggle between love and honor, I haven’t decided if Olwen is wrong or right, evil or good, in her desire to wrest away power from those that currently have it, which is how this story opens. There are some indications in both directions so the series could go either way, opening up a lot of interesting possibilities. But if the series is anything like this prequel, it will be highly entertaining.
While I like the character Andra and her inner struggle between love and honor, I haven’t decided if Olwen is wrong or right, evil or good, in her desire to wrest away power from those that currently have it, which is how this story opens. There are some indications in both directions so the series could go either way, opening up a lot of interesting possibilities. But if the series is anything like this prequel, it will be highly entertaining.
October 11, 2019
Wonderful, I loved this book!! I read this short prequel after I had already finished Dragon Whisper. The story really does a marvelous job of setting the background for the new series. It might have been better to have read it first but it isn't necessary.
I think I liked Andra, a captain in the Dragon Guard, more than Olwen, her lover and would-be ruler. She has to decide whether to save Olwen or follow the rules. She chose to save her lover and I it made me wonder which I would have done?
The story line is fast paced, full of action and the love Andra has for Olwen is so obvious. I kind of got the feeling Olwen loves power more than Andra but maybe that's just me. You can decide for yourself.
I think I liked Andra, a captain in the Dragon Guard, more than Olwen, her lover and would-be ruler. She has to decide whether to save Olwen or follow the rules. She chose to save her lover and I it made me wonder which I would have done?
The story line is fast paced, full of action and the love Andra has for Olwen is so obvious. I kind of got the feeling Olwen loves power more than Andra but maybe that's just me. You can decide for yourself.
December 26, 2022
Loved it!!!
I really enjoyed "Dragon Essence." I love fiction, fantasy and dragon stories. I'm a huge fan of Game of Thrones and all of the Lord of the Rings.
I chose to read this one1st when I saw it was a prequel and was planning to go on to Dragon Whisper. Unfortunately, I won't, unless it is also on Kindle Unlimited
I really enjoyed "Dragon Essence." I love fiction, fantasy and dragon stories. I'm a huge fan of Game of Thrones and all of the Lord of the Rings.
I chose to read this one1st when I saw it was a prequel and was planning to go on to Dragon Whisper. Unfortunately, I won't, unless it is also on Kindle Unlimited
January 18, 2019
Good beginning
A quick read to start the story proper. A brief taste of a hopefully interesting world. With the start of the story proper i am looking forward to this worlds development.
A quick read to start the story proper. A brief taste of a hopefully interesting world. With the start of the story proper i am looking forward to this worlds development.
March 6, 2019
What a brilliant book. With out giving anything away this book takes you on a full emotional roller-coaster that leaves you wanting more. Beautifully written with great characters. You really feel for the heroine and her journey she takes.
March 30, 2019
Wow!,what a story.
I have enjoyed reading this book, but it wasn’t my type of reading. I am not a short story liker. The characters were like able, but as soon as they started coming together the next chapter was THE END. Did I rate this book to high?
I have enjoyed reading this book, but it wasn’t my type of reading. I am not a short story liker. The characters were like able, but as soon as they started coming together the next chapter was THE END. Did I rate this book to high?
April 7, 2018
A short, hungry making appetizer for something adventurous to come. After having read this, I definitely look forward to the announced trilogy.
April 19, 2018
A strong introduction to the characters and world for what promises to be an action packed and heartfelt fantasy series. The conflicted main character is fantastic!
June 3, 2018
review coming soon
April 8, 2020
This was a quick and enjoyable novella. Reading this book made the main characters (who are more secondary in the main series), their relationship and their motives make more sense. However, I felt that a condensed version of this is necessary in the main series. It was a fun bonus read but it didn't feel like it added much to the series overall.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews