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Once and Future Hearts #2
Dragon Kin
Will she become the cursed king’s fifth dead wife?
In Lesser Britain, drought grips the land, forcing Arawn, King of Brocéliande, to take a fifth wife, hoping she will be the mother of his firstborn, whom the prophecy says will break the curse and save his people.
Ilsa, daughter of a wood cutter, is brought to Lorient to wed the cold, distant Arawn, terrified she will become the king’s next dead wife. There she learns about the true High King of Britain, Ambrosius, and his brother Uther, who build an army to take back Britain from the Saxons and Vortigern the Usurper.
Can Arawn find a way to save his people and the land that supports the future Pendragon? Will Ilsa break the curse?
This novel is part of the ancient historical romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.
1.0 Born of No Man
2.0 Dragon Kin
3.0 Pendragon Rises
4.0 War Duke of Britain
5.0 High King of Britain
6.0 Battle of Mount Badon
7.0 Abduction of Guenivere
8.0 Downfall of Cornwall
9.0 Vengeance of Arthur
10.0 Grace of Lancelot
11.0 The Grail and Glory
12.0 Camlann
In Lesser Britain, drought grips the land, forcing Arawn, King of Brocéliande, to take a fifth wife, hoping she will be the mother of his firstborn, whom the prophecy says will break the curse and save his people.
Ilsa, daughter of a wood cutter, is brought to Lorient to wed the cold, distant Arawn, terrified she will become the king’s next dead wife. There she learns about the true High King of Britain, Ambrosius, and his brother Uther, who build an army to take back Britain from the Saxons and Vortigern the Usurper.
Can Arawn find a way to save his people and the land that supports the future Pendragon? Will Ilsa break the curse?
This novel is part of the ancient historical romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.
1.0 Born of No Man
2.0 Dragon Kin
3.0 Pendragon Rises
4.0 War Duke of Britain
5.0 High King of Britain
6.0 Battle of Mount Badon
7.0 Abduction of Guenivere
8.0 Downfall of Cornwall
9.0 Vengeance of Arthur
10.0 Grace of Lancelot
11.0 The Grail and Glory
12.0 Camlann
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2018
23 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Cooper-Posey
206 books974 followersTracy Cooper-Posey is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, paranormal, urban fantasy, futuristic and science fiction romances. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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April 15, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/15/2020)! 🎁
April 24, 2020
As the 5th century British and Romano-British warlords Vortigern and Ambrosius face off for control of Britain, Ilsa and Arawn strive to break a curse decimating their land. In a marriage of necessity, can they find love? Can they save their home from killing droughts? Will they survive the great war?
This is a wonderful imagining of the time just prior to the birth of King Arthur with clean plotting, fully realized characters, realistic dialogue and exciting adventure! The historically accurate background indicates a level of serious research rarely seen in a romance novel. Kudos to author Tracy Cooper-Posey!
Merged review:
DRAGON KIN
As the 5th century British and Romano-British warlords Vortigern and Ambrosius face off for control of Britain, Ilsa and Arawn strive to break a curse decimating their land. In a marriage of necessity, can they find love? Can they save their home from killing droughts? Will they survive the great war?
This is a wonderful imagining of the time just prior to the birth of King Arthur with clean plotting, fully realized characters, realistic dialogue and exciting adventure! The historically accurate background indicates a level of serious research rarely seen in a romance novel. Kudos to author Tracy Cooper-Posey! Great book. Great series!
This is a wonderful imagining of the time just prior to the birth of King Arthur with clean plotting, fully realized characters, realistic dialogue and exciting adventure! The historically accurate background indicates a level of serious research rarely seen in a romance novel. Kudos to author Tracy Cooper-Posey!
Merged review:
DRAGON KIN
As the 5th century British and Romano-British warlords Vortigern and Ambrosius face off for control of Britain, Ilsa and Arawn strive to break a curse decimating their land. In a marriage of necessity, can they find love? Can they save their home from killing droughts? Will they survive the great war?
This is a wonderful imagining of the time just prior to the birth of King Arthur with clean plotting, fully realized characters, realistic dialogue and exciting adventure! The historically accurate background indicates a level of serious research rarely seen in a romance novel. Kudos to author Tracy Cooper-Posey! Great book. Great series!
January 31, 2023
4 ⭐️
Dragon Kin was the second book of this series and it was much better than the first.
Plot
Arawn, King of Brocéliande, is forced by drought in Lesser Britain to take a fifth wife in the hopes that she will give birth to the firstborn who, according to the prophesy, will break the curse and free his people.
The wood cutter's daughter Ilsa is brought to Lorient to marry the chilly, aloof Arawn out of fear that she will be the king's next deceased bride. There, she discovers the story of Ambrosius, the real High King of Britain, and his brother Uther, who raised an army to retake the country from the Saxons and Vortigern the Usurper.
The plot of this book was actually better than the previous one. We also have way more action here. The pacing was good, some parts of the novel were slower, especially the middle, but it still kept me engage the whole time.
Characters
Ilsa
Ilsa was so sweet. I love how she grew in this novel. She was a wood cutter's daughter and had no training in being queen. I love how she grew during the novel and starts to feel more comfortable in her new position as queen.
Arawn
He was the male protagonist. Because of him kingdom curse, Arawn has to marry Ilsa. I also liked him. The reader can see he is a great king, that deeply cares for his people and his country.
Side Characters
The side characters were also good. We saw for the first time Uther and also saw more of Ambrosius. Merlin was also present and it was good to see him when he was young.
Writing
Again, Tracy's writing is simple, but good.
World-Building
I loved seeing Lesser Britain kingdoms and I liked how she wrote about the politics and the tension between Vortigern/ Saxons and the other nobles that support Ambrosius.
Romance
The book focuses a lot on the romance between Arawn and Ilsa and I really liked it. I love how they grew a lot during the novel, both individually and collectively. They were really sweet together and I really loved the ending.
Final Thoughts
A very good read that will keep you wanting more.
Dragon Kin was the second book of this series and it was much better than the first.
Plot
Arawn, King of Brocéliande, is forced by drought in Lesser Britain to take a fifth wife in the hopes that she will give birth to the firstborn who, according to the prophesy, will break the curse and free his people.
The wood cutter's daughter Ilsa is brought to Lorient to marry the chilly, aloof Arawn out of fear that she will be the king's next deceased bride. There, she discovers the story of Ambrosius, the real High King of Britain, and his brother Uther, who raised an army to retake the country from the Saxons and Vortigern the Usurper.
The plot of this book was actually better than the previous one. We also have way more action here. The pacing was good, some parts of the novel were slower, especially the middle, but it still kept me engage the whole time.
Characters
Ilsa
Ilsa was so sweet. I love how she grew in this novel. She was a wood cutter's daughter and had no training in being queen. I love how she grew during the novel and starts to feel more comfortable in her new position as queen.
Arawn
He was the male protagonist. Because of him kingdom curse, Arawn has to marry Ilsa. I also liked him. The reader can see he is a great king, that deeply cares for his people and his country.
Side Characters
The side characters were also good. We saw for the first time Uther and also saw more of Ambrosius. Merlin was also present and it was good to see him when he was young.
Writing
Again, Tracy's writing is simple, but good.
World-Building
I loved seeing Lesser Britain kingdoms and I liked how she wrote about the politics and the tension between Vortigern/ Saxons and the other nobles that support Ambrosius.
Romance
The book focuses a lot on the romance between Arawn and Ilsa and I really liked it. I love how they grew a lot during the novel, both individually and collectively. They were really sweet together and I really loved the ending.
Final Thoughts
A very good read that will keep you wanting more.
August 26, 2018
New version of once and future King
The book and series loosely follows the same version of King Arthur that Mary Stewart wrote by telling of the lives of those who lived with legend.
The book and series loosely follows the same version of King Arthur that Mary Stewart wrote by telling of the lives of those who lived with legend.
Read
April 25, 2025Good story. It's making me try and remember my Arthur lore.
August 21, 2018
After reading the first book “Born of No Man” I could not wait to read the next book in the series. When I noticed the next book in the Once and Future Hearts Series “Dragon Kin” was out I was super excited. I sat down and started reading. In the beginning there is a drought, there is a need for water, so when they where told the rumor about a spring they headed out hoping to find it. On the journey we learn about a prophecy to cure the drought. It was said the first born child of the king will save Broceliande, as was told to Arawn by Rhonwen, who is Lady of the Lake, at his wedding. Just from the beginning I was drawn in for I wanted to know what was going to happen next. On the journey Arawn decides to take a fifth wife and have a child to end the curse. Then comes Ilsa. She is hunting a deer when she comes across the kings party looking for the spring. When Arawn first meets Ilsa they all believe she is a boy and she doesn’t say she’s a woman. When she says she knows where the spring is and that they are lost. There is a bargain on her taking them to the spring. The bargain being the bag of coins and half the deer. This is just the beginning. Throughout the book I was drawn in wanting to know what was going to happen next. There is so much detail that I keep on reading for I’m so into the book. Tracy Cooper-Posey just draws me into any of her books especially this new series. That I highly recommend not having not this book but any of her books.
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.
August 14, 2018
King Arawn had to break the curse he had put on him by any means. This started off to be quite rough for Ilsa his new queen at 1st.
His Kingdom of Brocèciande needed a queen that would give him a child.
Neighbouring kings in their kingdoms only really thought about the war that was coming, & the fact that men would fight in it. Ilsa found out she could use her bow & arrow to her advantage too, & become part of a troop & help in this war.
It brought it home to me just how it always seemed to be, the men were the men & the women weren't allowed to help at all, when in fact, they were a brilliant asset.
Merlin came in handy too, not only doom & gloom it seemed after the war was won & a certain castle burnt to the ground.
Ilsa had good news of her own too, so her & king Arawn could do the proverbial & live happily ever after.
His Kingdom of Brocèciande needed a queen that would give him a child.
Neighbouring kings in their kingdoms only really thought about the war that was coming, & the fact that men would fight in it. Ilsa found out she could use her bow & arrow to her advantage too, & become part of a troop & help in this war.
It brought it home to me just how it always seemed to be, the men were the men & the women weren't allowed to help at all, when in fact, they were a brilliant asset.
Merlin came in handy too, not only doom & gloom it seemed after the war was won & a certain castle burnt to the ground.
Ilsa had good news of her own too, so her & king Arawn could do the proverbial & live happily ever after.
November 17, 2024
After reading Born of No Man, I was eager to read the second book of the Once and Future Hearts series just to see how the story evolved.
What I didn't expect was the wealth of incredible detail cleverly woven into a great story. Tracy Cooper-Posey has done an enormous amount of research on a wide range of topics including how clothes are cut to give shape in a time before elastic, the Roman bathing experience, desalination and teaching literacy. It was absolutely astonishing and I worked my way through this book slowly, so as not to miss a word.
I think what impresses me most is that even with the larger than most volume of books Tracy publishes each year, the quality of her writing and the care with which she builds her characters, environments and storylines is never less than outstanding.
I adored this book - there will be second, third and tenth readings in the near future.
What I didn't expect was the wealth of incredible detail cleverly woven into a great story. Tracy Cooper-Posey has done an enormous amount of research on a wide range of topics including how clothes are cut to give shape in a time before elastic, the Roman bathing experience, desalination and teaching literacy. It was absolutely astonishing and I worked my way through this book slowly, so as not to miss a word.
I think what impresses me most is that even with the larger than most volume of books Tracy publishes each year, the quality of her writing and the care with which she builds her characters, environments and storylines is never less than outstanding.
I adored this book - there will be second, third and tenth readings in the near future.
April 23, 2020
OMG. I love this story, it's a grand classic of historical romance. Oh how I'd love to see this as a movie. As always the details, no matter small or large, are amazing. Actual events, mixed in with the story make you wonder if the story could possibly be true, These details, the strength of the characters, along with the authors amazing story telling abilities, makes you want to read all about the beliefs of that time, of curses, duty to !ords, kings and their people. Of course you'll also read of unlikely alliances through marriage without love. There is so much more fascinating details in this book that you won't want to miss. Dragon Kin is now one of my favorite historical books of all time; that is until this fabulous story-telling author releases her next book.
January 15, 2019
This book 2 in the series. Very good. Had a hard time to put down. This is about King Arawn of Broceliande, and his kingdom is in drought. They say his land is cursed and to break the curse he needs his wife to bear his first born child to live. So far he has had 4 wives and all have ended in sorrow, dying in childbirth. He was told to take the next woman he sees while on a hunting trip, and he thought , yeah, sure, that's going to happen out in the forest. Wonders never cease but he crosses paths with Ilsa, daughter of a wood cutter, who is out hunting deer . He takes her to Lorient to wed. Ilsa is terrified, and rightly so. She does marry him but it takes much for these two to overcome a lot of problems plus the curse. Highly recommend.
October 18, 2018
I have been addicted to the Arthurian and Merlin legends since I was a small child. This is one of the best series I have read so far. I can tell a lot of historical research went into the story. The presentation was different from what I expected. I had to think about what I knew about the history/legend of Arthur. I was thrilled with the story because of this aspect. I was pulled into the world and there until the end. I love that as a reader. I highly recommend this series and I am ready "right now" for the next story. It has been a while since an author evoked that reaction in me.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
December 12, 2018
A wonderful story and a really good series. A romantic approach to the Arthurian legend, this second installment details the story of Ilsa the Hunter, the bastard daughter of a king that will have an important role in the victory of the Britons. Isla weds king Arawn plagued by a curse that led his previous four wives to an early death, hoping to prevent a similar fate and to ensure the end of the curse. Full of surprising episodes, heartfelt characters and gripping adventures it is one of the best works of this author. I can't wait to read the next books in the series!
August 23, 2018
I loved this one so much! I spent the entire book telling myself to slow down and savor the tale and also not being able to put the book down. I was captivated from beginning to end, swept back in time to live the tale along with the characters. The story is rich in detail and historical facts mixed in with the fiction. I love story unfolds over time which feels more realistic and gives you time to really become invested in the characters. Everything about this one is magical!
August 21, 2018
This series puts Tracy Cooper Posey up there with the great Arthurian writers like Stewart and Bradley. Her vivid descriptions and historical snippets add so much to an already great story that I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews