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The Becoming continues the Dragon Heart Legacy epic of love and war among gods and humans, from Nora Roberts―the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Awakening.

The world of magick and the world of man have long been estranged from one another. But some can walk between the two―including Breen Siobhan Kelly. She has just returned to Talamh, with her friend, Marco, who’s dazzled and disoriented by this realm―a place filled with dragons and faeries and mermaids (but no WiFi, to his chagrin). In Talamh, Breen is not the ordinary young schoolteacher he knew her as. Here she is learning to embrace the powers of her true identity. Marco is welcomed kindly by her people―and by Keegan, leader of the Fey. Keegan has trained Breen as a warrior, and his yearning for her has grown along with his admiration of her strength and skills.

But one member of Breen’s bloodline is not there to embrace her. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran, plots to destroy Talamh―and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. There will be losses and sorrows, betrayal and bloodshed. But through it, Breen Siobhan Kelly will take the next step on the journey to becoming all that she was born to be.

464 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2021

4021 people are currently reading
23821 people want to read

About the author

Nora Roberts

1,209 books59.6k followers
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,082 reviews
Profile Image for Tanya R.
1,027 reviews32 followers
November 17, 2021
Having just finished Book 1 on audiobooks and not being really engaged with the story, I was hoping that Book 2 would be a better experience.

Unfortunately it wasn't.  The audiobook narration was great, just as in the first book.  I enjoyed the accents and the narrator had a variety of voices for the different characters which made it easier to keep everyone straight.

I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to find the comfort in reading a Nora Roberts story that I once did.  Not sure if it's me, perhaps my readings tastes have changed, or if it's the writing.  I felt like, as in book 1, there was way too much time spent on Breen learning how to fight with swords, too little time spent with anything dragon related and the lovely friendship with Marco felt really fake or forced.... not sure.

I loved how Roberts would build her relationships between characters in her past books.  But Marco's character is an over the top LGBTQ character that check marks all the normal gay stereotypes but has nothing underneath those flashy characteristics.  Breen is also a very surface-level character to me and their relationship was very meh.  Conversations consist of all the normal stereotype's you'd expect of a straight woman/gay man friendship.  Nothing new here. No depth of feeling or connection.

And while we are talking about connection.....it's almost non-existent between Breen and Keegan.  Disappointing.

As a summary, the narration is great! Love listening to the Irish accent here and there throughout the story.

The rest of the story was not up to the level I would expect from a fantasy trilogy or from Nora Roberts herself.  I won't be reading Book 3 as I'm just not that invested in the characters.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for providing the ARC for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Danielle.
205 reviews6 followers
September 8, 2024
Courtesy of Goodreads giveaways, I've just finished the highly anticipated (at least by me.. lol) second novel of Nora Roberts terrific new fantasy romance trilogy The Dragon Heart Legacy. My advance reader copy of The Becoming was every bit as good and better than I was hoping for. And I'm already waiting anxiously for the final book to be released.

From the moment I opened the book I had a horrible time putting it down, even going so far as to stand at the stove, book in hand as I cooked dinner. (Out of splatter distance of course. As it just wouldn't do to get grease or sauce on my fabulous new book. 😁) Which is why I'm writing this review at 2:30 am. 😁

Like the majority of Nora Roberts books, it took me on an emotional ride through a beautifully crafted world with rich and delightful characters that are easy to become attached to. I laughed out loud and cried more than once, and a few times sat on the edge of my seat.(metaphorically at least) And while I wouldn't say that I needed to reach for ice water, the love scenes were well written and were just the right amount of sweet and heat for those of you who prefer their romances some where between clean and erotic.

If you are a fan of Nora Roberts and fantasy romance I would absolutely recommend reading this series.

There is no cheating, no love triangles, some profanity and mild, but slightly steamy love scenes.
Profile Image for Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader.
2,785 reviews31.9k followers
December 11, 2021
The newest book in this set, The Becoming, is now out in the world, and gosh, this cover is equally gorgeous.

I’ve been reading Nora Roberts’ books off and on since I was a teenager, and I continue to be impressed with what a prolific writer she is but also the number of different genres in which she writes.

Her creativity is boundless. For example, The Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy is a paranormal/fantasy romance series. Totally outside my wheelhouse, I must say, but I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and fantasy of it. It’s a story of love and war, gods and magick.

Wildly inventive and easy to read, Roberts’ trademark style.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Profile Image for Megan.
169 reviews
December 15, 2021
After reading this I'm not sure why I liked the first one so much. I guess it was all the near constant feel-good wish-fulfillment ("unexpected fortune appears, getting to leave a dead-end job, tell off my a-hole mother, long-lost grandma built me a dream house in Ireland that I don't have to pay bills on apparently, I'm automatically a brilliant writer and instantly sell my first book which I wrote in an hour, AND a new chieftain boyfriend and the best magical powers, yay!!"). But none of that held up in this second book.

If you poured water on any of the characters, protagonists and villains included, they'd all make a mess because they're made from the flimsiest of cardboard. This author writing a gay, Black, millenial man-- it was the cringiest part of a story that had me cringing at least once a chapter. The protagonist, Breen, is the Mary-iest Mary Sue I have encountered in a good long while.

I really miss 90's Nora Roberts.
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,073 reviews3,012 followers
December 28, 2022
As Breen Siobhan Kelly and her best friend Marco were drawn into the realm of Talamh by Keegan, Breen was delighted to be back. But Marco was quite overwhelmed. And as he saw the changes in Breen, and came to see her as she always should have been, Marco became as caught up and fascinated by Talamh as Breen was. Breen was home again, training with Keegan, spending time with her Nan as she learned more about her powers. Danger was heading toward them, from Breen's grandfather Odran, outcast dark god on the other side; also from one inside Talamh.

Would they all, combined, be able to defeat those who would destroy the peace and calm of Talamh?

The Becoming is the 2nd in The Dragon Heart Legacy by Nora Roberts and it was brilliant. The characters are filled with depth, the magicks are fascinating, intriguing. The dragons are amazing; entering the Capital where justice is done, parties are held, council meets - and more. The Choice is the 3rd and final in the trilogy, and I'm starting it next! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Julie - One Book More.
1,320 reviews236 followers
November 6, 2021
The second novel in Nora Robert’s Dragon Heart Legacy, The Becoming is a fantastic addition to the series! With strong, immersive world-building, a well-layered and dynamic protagonist, and tons of heart-stopping action, the story is a magical and exciting read.

In The Awakening, the first book in the series, Breen is just learning of her heritage and her powers. However, in this story, Breen is embracing and honing her abilities. She is truly “becoming” what Talamh needs to defeat the evil that threatens their peaceful existence. With guidance from her grandmother and instruction from the hunky Keegan, as well as the support of her best friend Marco and other new friends, Breen learns all that she can to defeat the evil Odran, a banished god and her grandfather.

Breen is such a dynamic protagonist, and I love how her story progresses. She is fierce and intelligent and so determined to succeed, and I was continually impressed with the way she handled all of the obstacles that stood in her way. It can’t be easy knowing you are the key to saving the world from evil, but Breen had a strong support system and a ton of determination. Breen thrives when busy, so she is always in a constant state of motion, and she accomplishes so much over the course of the book, especially in regard to mastering her abilities and working on her writing. Her relationships grow and develop as well, and I love how she strengthens her ties to Talamh and the people who live there. Breen also learns a lot about her father and her history, which I think helps to connect her even more to Talamh.

One of the highlights of the story is the plethora of wonderful relationships. Friendships, romantic relationships, and family bonds prove strong and unwavering. One relationship that I loved in The Becoming and continue to love in this book is between Breen and her grandmother Marg. Marg is so fantastic! She shows Breen in a dozen different ways how much she loves, supports, and understands her granddaughter. A wise and strong woman, Marg is not only a wonderful grandmother, she is also a great teacher and mentor. I think this relationship is important because Breen didn’t have it for most of her life. In fact, she didn’t have a strong and supportive female role model in her life until she reconnected with Marg, and it’s plain to see that both were missing the connection.

At the start of the story, Marco, Breen’s best friend, accompanies her on her journey to Talamh. Breen and Marco have the best relationship. They show complete acceptance and support and always have each other’s backs no matter what. Marco has a lively and effervescent personality, and he brings a bit of optimism and levity during some intense moments. Marco is amazing. He is thrust into this new, fantastical world, and he goes, blindly ignorant to everything because he loves Breen so much. There is nothing these best friends wouldn’t do for each other. Even when Breen uses all of her hardcore power, Marco stands beside her, frightened and unsure but willing to risk his own safety to support her. They have an unbreakable bond, and they seem to understand each other without even speaking at times, as lifelong best friends can sometimes do. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the novel.

Then there’s the romance! I love a swoon-worthy love story, and the romance between Breen and Keegan is slow-building, angsty, and wonderful. Keegan is super swoon-worthy, even though he has no idea how to communicate, and I love his developing relationship with Breen. They are well suited, though their relationship is not without its problems. Keegan and Breen are alike in that they both put the good of others ahead of their own needs. They are both torn between duty and desire, and they have to figure out if they can balance both. With their very lives and the lives of all they know at stake, they don’t take their responsibilities lightly, and I’m curious to see how their relationship fares as the story continues. Between the threat of Odran and his followers, jealous people, and other obstacles, their love will have to be strong to survive.

Another highlight of the novel is the immersive and layered world-building. From Ireland to the magical realm of Talamh, the setting is dynamic and detailed. Plus, Breen has a special gift. This gift leaps off the page and helps to create such a vivid and vibrant setting. As she experiences the wonder of being one with all living things, we can almost see this unique world through her eyes, and it is amazing! There is so much beauty in Talamh, and so many wonderful aspects (did I mention dragons? There are dragons, and they are brilliant!) are described, which severely contrasts the brutal evilness of Odran.

I also need to do a special shout-out to Bollock, Breen’s loyal dog. Like Breen, Bollocks is coming into his own and has proven himself a fierce and loyal companion. Animal companions are the best, and between Bollocks and the dragons, I’m in total adoration. I love that we learn more about these beautiful, magical creatures, and I have a feeling they’ll have a significant role in the next book.

I thought this was a great addition to The Dragon Heart Legacy. It’s immersive and suspenseful, and you can tell things are ramping up for an epic finale! Between the intriguing plot, the dynamic character development, the wonderful relationships, and the romances, (yes, there’s more than one, and they’re soooo good!!) there is never a dull moment, and I love the messages of empowerment and fighting for what you believe in. I’m so eager to continue this series and find out how Breen, Keegan, and the others fare when faced with the ultimate villain. Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
162 reviews
December 17, 2021
This book was so disappointing. The first book in the series was absolutely amazing and I was so excited for this book. This book is overdone, the character Marco is a perfect example of that. He refers to Breen as “girl” or “girlfriend” way too much, to the point where it took away from the story and made his character seem obnoxious and annoying. So annoying that I won’t bother to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for CJ.
346 reviews3 followers
December 3, 2021
This was so needlessly long.
Profile Image for Ira.
1,155 reviews129 followers
December 4, 2021
4.5 stars ⭐️

I like this type of trilogy from Ms. Roberts.
We have the same characters for the whole series and the story continues without needing a repeat in each book.

The down side?
She only published one book/year and often than not, I forgot what the previous stories all about!
I should wait until all books published before reading this series 😬.

Oh well, I will write the review next year, then 😳🙄😂🤣

❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,299 reviews197 followers
May 11, 2022
DNF @ 40% the first book was so good, this one is annoying me. The characters repeat themselves after saying a sentence constantly, and I’m just losing interest. Marco saying “girl” after everything is also an annoyance. Kinda bummed - one of my most anticipated reads.
Profile Image for Kelli.
589 reviews8 followers
January 5, 2022
This seemed very YA to me, but not in a good way. Full of cliches that were repeted to exhaustion- the gay best friend's constant "You go girl" in all it's iterations and women unable to speak 3 words between them without opening a bottle of wine. It also suffered from pacing issues- this is the second installment and yet we're still sitting in on cooking and training sessions, daily breakdowns of routine schedules, and then when the dragons fully emerge into this DRAGON Heart Legacy- it's kind of rushed through and glanced over. I think more time was spent with Breen "adopting" Bollocks than with her bonding a damn dragon ffs.
Profile Image for Brittany McCann.
2,712 reviews608 followers
October 7, 2024
The Becoming is SO good! I didn't want it to end. I am not ready to now have to wait for the final book. I should probably suck it up and finally say goodbye to my dear Fallon in Chronicles of the One while I wait, but I haven't been ready. I really hope that Nora Roberts isn't going to end the Dragon Heart legacy after only ONE more book. There is such an expansive world here and so many unforgettable characters and stories that I would love to read about. I hope this one will be more than just the initially intended trilogy! Please, Nora, do it for the fans.

While I thoroughly enjoyed and wrestled with my thoughts on The Awakening, the depth of this one was so much more, and I have wanted more of Talamh. I also love the narration on this one; that helps with my own butchered pronunciation attempts at all of the names of characters and locations, and my brain's inability to find the Gaelic pronunciation of certain letter combinations, hahaha.

I love the additional political issues that weave into the overall plot and how Nora Roberts has taken rife historical lore and merged it with the contemporary. It's evident that Nora Roberts is a veteran author, and this reads like it was written by one.

I loved everything about it (except that I envy the ability to churn out books at Breen's speed).

5+ stars.

PS> If you kill off Bollocks, we may have to have words.
Profile Image for Alex (Alex's Version).
1,136 reviews110 followers
November 11, 2024
This book didn't quite measure up to the first one. The conclusion of the first installment was incredibly impactful, leaving us with a thrilling cliffhanger. I distinctly remember deciding to wait until all three books were released before diving into the series. True to my word, I haven't started the Lost Bride books yet, but I plan to tackle them next year!

Now, back to the reason you're here—my review of this book. While it may not have reached the heights of the first, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the characters, and the vivid descriptions of Ireland were truly captivating.

Profile Image for Coco.
193 reviews33 followers
October 10, 2022
4✨

Si en el primer libro conocimos Talahm desde la perspectiva de Breen, en este lo haremos desde la de Marco. Creo que es una buena estrategia para volver a resaltar las maravillas de este mundo, así como a su vez el personaje tiene más protagonismo.

Este mundo, Talahm, es una fantasía. Con brujos, seres féericos, metamorfos y otras cuantas criaturas fantásticas cualquiera rezaría por encontrar el portal que nos llevaría hasta él. La autora crea unas descripciones exquisitas del paisaje y sin duda hace que te inmerses y empapes de lo que lees (como si el libro fuera el portal, me parece una metáfora muy bonita).

La trama de este libro no me ha gustado más que la del anterior, creo que es una trilogía y este segundo libro puede verse como uno "puente" hacia el final: pasan cosas pero no muy significativas. Shara es la que más juego da a la historia, y me hubiera gustado que tuviera más motivos detrás.

Y esta es una de las cosas negativas: aquí los personajes o son malos o son buenos, no hay intermedios. No hay grises, ambigüedades o indicios más profundos para que te hagan dudar o replantearte la situación desde su perspectiva. Todo es blanco o negro, extremos opuestos que podrían no serlo tanto con otro desarrollo de los personajes.

Breen es la elegida y Keenan es el elegido. Esto también me fastidia algo: el cliché del "Elegido". Todo pasa por el destino, son fuertes por el destino, su papel es importante por el destino, ellos decidirán qué pasará, quién ganará, cómo será el mundo... porque así lo ha elegido el destino. (Un poquito de este tropo no está mal, pero creo que se abusa algo de él).

Además, lo buenazos que son también me resultó pesado. Si no pueden dedicarse ni un momento para ellos hasta que llegan a la conclusión de que si lo hacen y se relajan y satisfacen estarán mejor para salvar a Talahm! Too much, se puede ser "egoísta" y con cabeza, sin necesidad de justificarlo como una buena causa para el mundo.

Hay dos escenas +18, no están completamente descritas, no son tan explícitas pero sí que hubo una que me sorprendió (y horrorizó un poquito).

El final deja con muchas ganas de el tercer libro que estoy deseando leer. Los puntos negativos que he mencionado están tan bien descritos que se contrarrestan. La pluma de la autora hace que disfrutes tanto de la historia que casi no eres consciente de ellos hasta que la terminas y reflexionas un poco.
Profile Image for Serena Miles.
1,460 reviews69 followers
March 14, 2024
Comencé la lectura pensando que iba a ser mala y me ha sorprendido gratamente. Es cierto que los tres primeros capítulos son un rollazo, pero después la cosa se va animando y he acabado con ganas de coger el siguiente. Toda la trama con Shana me ha tenido en vilo, y los últimos capítulos han sido estupendos. A ver que pasa con el último libro
Profile Image for Christina.
289 reviews42 followers
April 5, 2023
After reading book 1 in January, it took me awhile to get my hands on the rest of the series and I'm so glad I finally did.

In this book Breen returns to Talamh, unexpectedly followed by her best friend Marco; who is more than a little confused by the whole ordeal.

As Marco is introduced to the world of Magick and those who inhabit it, Breen continues her training, learns more about both her past and her future, and grows even closer to Keegan. Becoming the key she was born to be.
3 reviews
August 23, 2021
I was given this book early thanks to a goodreads giveaway! Nora Roberts has done an excellent job developing each of these characters, and I personally want to be friends with almost all of them. I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen to my new friends in the land of Talamh, which I’m also in love with.

This book is full of heart, magic, and adventure. Nora Roberts’ books just keep getting better!
Profile Image for Chelsea Trevor.
25 reviews530 followers
January 17, 2022
4.5 !! Thoroughly enjoyed the second book!!
I can’t wait for the third in the series.
Profile Image for Annette Williams.
1,188 reviews413 followers
Read
January 17, 2022
DNF at 35%

It pains me to do this. I didn't think I would ever DNF a Nora Roberts book but, The Becoming was so boring. Honestly, the first two books in this series were a disappointment as have Nora Roberts' last several books. I've been a huge fan for decades and it's quite obvious her writing style has changed and not for the better. At least not for me. She seems to be writing more women's fiction and fantasy than romance. The last few books she's written, the characters had zero chemistry and the books lacked any kind of romance between the hero and heroine. If you've decided to stop writing romance then, say that and I'll just keep my money. The Becoming was not the caliber of writing I’ve come expect from Nora Roberts so, it's safe to say, I will not be reading book three.
Profile Image for Hsinju Chen.
Author 3 books263 followers
January 1, 2022
genre   : fantasy + contemporary, romance
pairing : cishet white woman + cishet fae man
POV     : multiple 3rd-person (omniscient?)
location: Ireland + Talamh (fictional)
indie?  : no
4.5 stars rounded up.

The Becoming is the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy. While I enjoyed The Awakening (my review), I loved this sequel. I love the writing and the characters! Even though I didn’t fully understanding the magics, it’s okay because Breen doesn’t understand either. Also, I’m not rating for the romance aspect (I’m not feeling the chemistry); I’m rating for how awesome the people in the book are.

Having learned more about her past and the powers within her, Breen is now back in Talamh; this time, with her best friend Marco (gay, Black) with her. As the situation in the world of Fey becomes more dire, Breen has to think fast and train hard to defeat the evil god Odran.

Can I talk about how much I love Marco? I’ve been hoping he’s find a special someone in this trilogy and while it’s kind of insta-lovey (the main romance between Breen and Keegan also feels a bit insta-lovey), I’m just very happy. Many of the characters are related to each other in some ways, so I drew a family tree (cover your eyes if you don’t want minor spoilers):

The Becoming family tree

Being the chosen one to defeat a dark god isn’t a new plot in fantasy, but woo boy did Roberts give LIFE to all of the characters. All the good characters are incredibly wholesome, and even though they were all under threat of losing their home to Odran, the overall tone and feel of The Becoming is still wonderful and light.

And Breen’s dog, Bollocks; the bravest boy! 😭😭😭

Yes, I did almost cry toward the end of the book, and that was how I knew this was a five-star book for me. I’m surprised the final installment isn’t titled “The Chosen,” but I cannot wait for the finale in The Offering! Breen, Keegan, Marco, Marco’s boyfriend, and Bollocks had better be alive and well until the end.

content warnings: ritualistic bloodshed (of people and a dog, all with consent), semi-graphic sex (m/f), death of minor character, nonconsensual drugging, killings, mention of homophobic experience from family

I received a digital review copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amanda.
231 reviews10 followers
November 30, 2021
The plot and characters aren’t so bad, but the writing is. I don’t care if it is written by Nora Roberts, this series needs a new editor!
152 reviews38 followers
March 25, 2024
Aun en mi estado actual de Creo-Que-Podría-Estar-Muriendo juraría que este libro es mejor que el primero, sí. No diría que es tan genial como los dragones pero vamos, nunca existirá algo tan genial como los dragones. NUNCA.

Señor infernal, esa gente bebe más alcohol que yo… y eso es decir mucho, créame.

Marco Olsen persigue a su amiga cuando esta atraviesa un extraño portal mágico (porque, francamente, qué buen amigo se sentaría y simplemente vería a una de las personas más importantes de su vida ir rumbo a algún lugar usando una cosa que, se supone, solo existe en libros de fantasía) y el nuevo mundo en el que acaba lo deja impresionado. Y desconcertado, sí, mas sigue sintiéndose mayormente impresionado.
Él está menos impresionado cuando se entera de que un dios ¡un maldito dios literal! va tras Breen, ansioso por absorber todo el poder que la chica sea capaz de dar…
Marco, por supuesto, se niega a permitir que ella afronte el peligro sin su ayuda, no importa cuánto Breen intente alejarlo.

Breen Siobhan Kelly está decidida a continuar preparándose para luchar contra Odran una vez que llegue el momento de hacerlo.
Lamentablemente, nadie le dijo que debería haberse preparado para aceptar que un amigo demasiado leal (a quien definitivamente no debe, no debe, encerrar dentro de un campo de fuerza impenetrable) permanecerá a su lado lo quiera o no, para empezar a tener visiones de acontecimientos que anuncian un posible futuro muy malo, horrible, espantoso y nada bueno y para soportar a una intrigante, inestable y despiadada mujer despechada (aunque sí se encuentra muy dispuesta a enfrentarla, muchas gracias)

En una nota relacionada, la muerte de Loren Mac Niadh realmente, realmente me afectó… y ni siquiera sé por qué, la verdad, pues el tipo no fue un personaje extremadamente relevante… y sin embargo…
Profile Image for bookworm ˚୨୧⋆。˚ ⋆.
157 reviews136 followers
August 4, 2024
THE BECOMING (DRAGON HEART LEGACY #2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“in the light live the brave”

-minor spoilers-

i read this series about three years ago many times, i really enjoyed it! so when i found this one in a free books thing, i took it 😋

the irish stuff, as nora roberts always writes, goes perfectly with the ancient world of the fey (the wise, the sidhe, the were, the mer, the elves etc) and no singular race or species or breed is the enemy. the enemy is the ones who wish harm upon talamh and revere odran as their god. and that could be anyone or anything.

fight. defend. destroy”

🐉BREEN KELLY🐉
a new witch learning to become who she was always meant to be. it’s actually so sad to read about how, even though she’s so much more confident than she was, that her mother still has her doubting herself
- also bullocks! i love that dog so much he’s so cute and i just want to reach through the book and pat his little head 🐾
- lonrach! i want a dragon! 🐉


👑KEEGAN O’BROIN👑
give me one of these please. the fierce leader of talamh, he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. i loved him in the awakening but it was so good to see what he’s like as an actual LEADER in the capital.

🎂MARCO OLSEN🎂
omg one of the sweetest and funniest characters ever. marco is 100% my favourite! ughhh i wish i could try his cooking, the way everyone raves about it makes me so hungry.

🐍SHANA O’LOINSIGH🐍
i have a lot of disdain for girls that petty, but what she does after? and how she LIKES IT, is actually not okay. completely mentally unstable, i’m not sure what happened to her to make her that way. some people are just born to be evil i guess? though she is ambitious, jealous and psychotic, she’s actually smart. no one would have ever thought she’d do that. she’s almost as bad as yseult, odran’s right hand (aka the evil snake witch bitch) but worse because she spent so long pretending. did you drink your own love potion girl? it’s safe to say i actually like this manipulative bitch less than odran himself.

😈ODRAN😈
the “big bad”
breen’s evil dark god grandfather who wants to drain her power and soul and kill everyone she loves and take over the worlds (he’s so lovely isn’t he? best grandfather ever!)
while he won’t win any grandfather of the year awards, he sure does win the award for being a big prick that’s actually CRAZYYYY. i have a lot of disdain for a man who drinks the soul of his own baby, but then again that’s what he created him for. and now breen is his prize. her blood will give him enough power to take over the worlds.

BREEN’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS
MARG & SEDRIC- i wish i had a cool witch grandmother! and a sweet cat step grandfather
MORENA & HARKEN- awww literally so perfect together. thank god they finally pledged!
AISLING, MAHON AND THE KIDS- fin and kavan are so adorable and aisling is so sweet. mahon is an amazing fighter and so loyal to keegan. they’d be great neighbours!
SALLY- breen’s mother of her heart! i really really want to meet him! he’s such a vibe!

“he’s a coward. he’s a goddamn coward. stealing and killing children, lording it over a bunch of ugly, asshole demons”

this is my favourite in the series, such great books, if you find it, give it a go.

🐉✨🍀🔮🪄🧚‍♀️🕯️⚔️👑🦌🪴🌺🌙💫⚡️🫧🎸🔥🌅 🗝️📚 🪦⛪️😈🐍💝🌌
Profile Image for Kimberly.
2,299 reviews98 followers
November 23, 2021
Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Return to the world of the Talamh, a world of the Wise and the Fey, of dragons and trolls; a world a fallen god seeks to destroy. In The Becoming , Nora Roberts continues to build on what she started with The Awakening, weaving a story of light versus dark. And at the center of it all is Breen Siobhan Kelly, the key to Talamh’s rise or fall, and a woman coming into her full power.

The Becoming is very much a bridge book, for better or worse Much of the story follows Breen as she continues to learn more magic, develop her craft, train to fight, and search for clues as to what her evil grandfather is planning to do next. By her side is her best friend Marco, a man who is thrown for a loop after being transported from Philadelphia to Talamh. Breen and Marco are both easy to like and their bond is one they cherish above all else. I loved their friendship and how they always supported one another. Despite being a city boy, Marco is quickly enveloped in Talamh and Breen’s friends and family become his. I enjoyed watching Breen and Marco become further enmeshed in Talamh but it did grow repetitive. As a longtime fan of Nora Roberts it pains me to say the first half of this book is painfully slow. There’s a lot of filler with small bursts of excitement as we follow Breen, Marco, and Keegan on their daily tasks. At a little over halfway the story picks up the pace, as Breen travels to the Capital. There politics and false faces add drama and interest, but the story still doesn’t hit its full stride until the last third of the book. There insidious evil creeps through and forces our heroes to come together and act. I was hooked at the end, though what occurred was still just a taste of what I hope is to come in the final book.

The Becoming isn’t a romance, but there are love stories throughout. From the slow and steady to the lightening quick, from tragic to one-sided, and more – love is the counterpart to the dark and violent elements of this story. Breen and Keegan’s romance, the one you would expect to be the most prominent, remains understated. I liked them together and I actually enjoyed that they are focused on saving the world more than exploring what they could have together. The practicality of it makes sense, though because I expect a romance when I read Nora Roberts I hope to see more sparks between Keegan and Breen in the final installment.

The Becoming moves the overarching plot of the Dragon Heart Legacy series forward but on its own it’s a book I liked but didn’t love. I enjoyed my time in Talamh, liked watching the characters grow and relationships develop, but the pacing made the story drag a bit. I am, however, very much looking forward to seeing what comes next as Breen and all those who stand with her in the light take on pure evil.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Kate.
335 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2022
OH the first book of 2022 is gonna be like that huh

The Becoming is the second book in the Dragon Heart Legacy series, and picks up immediately after the end The Awakening. I had problems with the first book but still felt interested enough to pick up the sequel. It has a lot of the same issues. Snail's pace plotting, focused mainly on Breen gallivanting around faerieland and being perfect at everything. She has her friend Marco with her this time, and he gets to do a lot of baking, flirting, horeseback riding, and other activities which we find out about in minute detail. There's barely any action in this book, and the two battle scenes are over quickly. That's fine, because I'm not an action reader, but I started to get bored by the end because none of the large cast of characters was really that unique. This book needed a cast list at the beginning because I lost track of Breen's huge family after the 18th second cousin's baby we're introduced to. When some of these side characters die, I felt nothing because I had barely seen them.

Ok, filler could be forgiven for a second book. What really drove me crazy was the "villain" character, Shana. She's portrayed as evil and conniving for no reason except that she was spoiled by her parents (they...loved her too much...?), and she's jealous of Breen. I hated how the two women were pitted against each other and fought over Keegan. Shana is portrayed as a vain woman who cares about her clothes and makeup, and takes charge of her sexuality, apparently this is enough to make a person evil. Breen thinks she's insane at first but then comes to the conclusion that she was just born bad. Okay then?? What was really unforgivable was the

Overall I feel like this trilogy could easily be a single book, there's so much unnecessary scenery chewing yet the worldbuilding and magic system is so vague. Like basically just irish folklore stereotypes. AND I WILL NEVER GET OVER THE DOG BEING NAMED BOLLOCKS.

Will I still read the third one? Probably, because I want to see if the ridiculousness continues.
Profile Image for Sherry Sharpnack.
1,020 reviews38 followers
February 18, 2025
Book #2 in The Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy did NOT disappoint!
Book #1 ends with Keegan literally dragging Breen from Philly back to Talamh -- but Marco didn't let go of her either. So, Marco ends up in Talamh. Breen has a lot of 'splainin'' to do...
This book is filled with darkness, foreboding, a couple of battles, a serious betrayal -- and Breen coming into her own as a fierce defender of Talamh. Throw in some HOT romance between Marco and his new acquaintance-turned-lover; some sessions for Keegan and Breen; and a really disturbing near-rape of an old flame of Keegan's by Odran, the dark god, and you have a LOT more sex in this book than the previous. I gotta say that Nora Roberts' sex scenes seriously rival Diana Gabaldon's for hotness!
So Breen "becomes" the powerful witch/Sidhe/Fey/human that she was born to be. Will she learn enough, train hard enough, for when Odran finally comes for her? Will she lose, and lose herself AND Talamh to the dark god? On to Book #3. 4.8 stars rounded up, because second books in trilogies always feel like the reader is waiting for the LAST book, for the denouement of a series.
2 reviews
January 19, 2022
Poor writing

I really wanted to like this series, but the quality of writing is terribly poor. It makes we wonder if Nora Roberts has an inexperienced ghost writer working on this series. I had to force myself to finish this book, and it was mildly infuriating to endure it. I would not recommend this series at all.
Profile Image for Annette.
2,766 reviews48 followers
November 23, 2021
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was really excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of the next one. This one is just as magical as the first one. I wanted to travel with Breen and Marco. Ride a dragon high above the fields and witness all the magic. I enjoyed this book and anxiously await the next one.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
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