What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragons of Mayfair #2
An Elusive Dragon
Eliza Prescott's father has a plan for her and her dragon magic. He wants to see her married to a titled gentleman who can advance their family fortunes. But Eliza has her own plan to show her father the folly of his ambitions: engage herself to the most obnoxious, dandified lord possible. Then, her father might free her to chart her own course. She just has to avoid the interference of her trustee, Captain Parry, who seems determined to ruin her social schemes, and ignore the water magic pulling her to the sea. But when she stumbles upon a deadly secret about dragons, it threatens to throw all her plans out of order and put her, her friends, and all of Britain in danger.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2021
180 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
E.B. Wheeler
37 books127 followersE.B. Wheeler attended BYU, majoring in history with an English minor, and earned graduate degrees in history and landscape architecture from Utah State University. She's the award-winning author of THE HAUNTING OF SPRINGETT HALL, BORN TO TREASON, and NO PEACE WITH THE DAWN, as well as several short stories, magazine articles, and scripts for educational software programs. She was named the 2016 Writer of the Year by the League of Utah Writers. In addition to writing, she consults about historic preservation and teaches history at USU. She lives in the mountains of Utah with her family, various pets, and as many antique roses as she can cram into her yard. If she had spare time, she would spend it playing harp and hammered dulcimer, gardening, hiking, shooting archery, knitting, and reading.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 8, 2022
That cover, it just bothers me. Elise is someone who is very proper and poised and beautiful. She cares a lot about what others think. Perry is a sea captain confident and strong. I wish there love story had been flushed out a little more. So much more could have been done with it. I found myself getting a little bored in the middle with this one. A little too much of boring drawing room conversations. The first book had a little more magic and romance. The end was great but overall this one just kind of left me not wanting to read the next. Time to move on to a different kind of storyline.
This is very proper with a kiss and a little bit of violence.
This is very proper with a kiss and a little bit of violence.
October 8, 2024
This one has barely any romance in it, it's more of a cozy mystery than anything else.
I honestly did not care for our protagonist and I think it was a mistake to tell this particular adventure from her point of view. She felt very hollow and one note, and exceedingly dull - which is exactly how I felt about her romance with the captain. Although sweet in its core, it lacked substance and any memorable moments 🤷🏻♀️
The second half of the book really picked up the pace (thank the gods!) and its focus shifted more toward the dragon history and magic instead of Eliza's inner dravel and mumbling thoughts. I really loved little Mary and her dragon, she greatly reminded me of the little girl from Drowned Country. Lord Blackerby continues to be enchanting in his shadow daddy ways and Jamie continues to amuse the hell out of me with his street urchin ways (the scene where Eliza recieves a letter from her father and is left speechless just for Jamie to "help" her by cussin the hell out of him in her stead in the middle of a crowded inn lol). And Pearl... Ah, I loved her! She was so beautiful and majestic and made my heart ache! The way she spoke of her duty as the guardian of Devon and her longing for the open sea... and then mentioning her human, Katherine... And letting Josh pet her. "Thank you for this chance to see the sun and waves again. They will warm my dreams." MY HEART!?! 😭💖
I honestly did not care for our protagonist and I think it was a mistake to tell this particular adventure from her point of view. She felt very hollow and one note, and exceedingly dull - which is exactly how I felt about her romance with the captain. Although sweet in its core, it lacked substance and any memorable moments 🤷🏻♀️
The second half of the book really picked up the pace (thank the gods!) and its focus shifted more toward the dragon history and magic instead of Eliza's inner dravel and mumbling thoughts. I really loved little Mary and her dragon, she greatly reminded me of the little girl from Drowned Country. Lord Blackerby continues to be enchanting in his shadow daddy ways and Jamie continues to amuse the hell out of me with his street urchin ways (the scene where Eliza recieves a letter from her father and is left speechless just for Jamie to "help" her by cussin the hell out of him in her stead in the middle of a crowded inn lol). And Pearl... Ah, I loved her! She was so beautiful and majestic and made my heart ache! The way she spoke of her duty as the guardian of Devon and her longing for the open sea... and then mentioning her human, Katherine... And letting Josh pet her. "Thank you for this chance to see the sun and waves again. They will warm my dreams." MY HEART!?! 😭💖
March 8, 2023
Solid continuation of the story, looking forward to book three
September 8, 2023
It didn't have the same impact on me as the first book in the series but I still enjoyed it.
Already with the third book.
Already with the third book.
January 23, 2025
yeah im eating this up give me more gaslamp fantasies
November 18, 2023
Okay listen, are these books a little silly? Yes. But the most frustrating part is that if they were a little longer and set up more character building, some backstory on the dragons, a skosh more of the regency society, and truly invested in the romance, they could be really solid. The writing isn’t bad!
For fans of gaslamp fantasy or fantasy of manners, this is probably pretty satisfying. Just expect it to be a novella, in every way.
On a more personal note I actually liked the romance of this better than the first, I was just deeply unsatisfied by the lack of airtime the author gave to them.
Especially since these are KU, I’m shocked by how short they are.
For fans of gaslamp fantasy or fantasy of manners, this is probably pretty satisfying. Just expect it to be a novella, in every way.
On a more personal note I actually liked the romance of this better than the first, I was just deeply unsatisfied by the lack of airtime the author gave to them.
Especially since these are KU, I’m shocked by how short they are.
January 23, 2023
Not as good as the first in the series. Not enough dragons and the romance is awkward, abrupt and unsatisfying. Still, dragons.
March 31, 2023
Adventuresome
Escaping the intrigues from London, our heroines and heroes go to Lyme where the villain follows. A nice page turner with unexpected developments.
Escaping the intrigues from London, our heroines and heroes go to Lyme where the villain follows. A nice page turner with unexpected developments.
January 22, 2024
3.5
An Elusive Dragon was a solid second installment in the Dragons of Mayfair series. I really enjoyed that the women were more involved this time in the action. I also liked learning more about the dragons and how they operate. Lastly, I really appreciated that the character Mary Anning was based on a real female scientist from the era. That was a great Easter Egg.
My one complaint of this series is that the books should be longer. The author has a great world to work in, with the way she involved dragons, and more page time would give the romance and action a chance to simmer and steep.
Overall, I do enjoy this short, lighthearted series. It's not meant to be taken too seriously, and instead is just simple entertainment.
P.S. I appreciate the use of old artwork to base the cover art on (like with the first book), however, based on the description of Eliza in both the previous novella and this one, I feel like the cover artwork does a disservice to her. One, it's generally not very appealing, and two, appears very "whitewashed." It's a disappointing depiction of Eliza.
An Elusive Dragon was a solid second installment in the Dragons of Mayfair series. I really enjoyed that the women were more involved this time in the action. I also liked learning more about the dragons and how they operate. Lastly, I really appreciated that the character Mary Anning was based on a real female scientist from the era. That was a great Easter Egg.
My one complaint of this series is that the books should be longer. The author has a great world to work in, with the way she involved dragons, and more page time would give the romance and action a chance to simmer and steep.
Overall, I do enjoy this short, lighthearted series. It's not meant to be taken too seriously, and instead is just simple entertainment.
P.S. I appreciate the use of old artwork to base the cover art on (like with the first book), however, based on the description of Eliza in both the previous novella and this one, I feel like the cover artwork does a disservice to her. One, it's generally not very appealing, and two, appears very "whitewashed." It's a disappointing depiction of Eliza.
July 7, 2024
Not as good as the previous book but still entertaining. I didn't like Eliza as much as I liked Phoebe and found her story a little boring. Eliza struck me as very spoiled, whining about being free and wanting to marry a man who would allow her to do whatever it was she wished without restraint. This is the story of basically every single rich regency heiress ever and it is very tired. It didn't make her story even remotely interesting and I hope the next character is better. The romance for this one was almost an afterthought and the book suffered because of it. The ending of the romance storyline felt rushed, forced and predictable. The characters were not as well rounded and fleshed out as the previous book, which caused this one to lose stars.
I did like that the story kept all the characters that we met in the first book all together, even the villainous characters. I still really like the world of magic and dragons and I am hoping the next book has more of both. 2.5/5 stars.
I did like that the story kept all the characters that we met in the first book all together, even the villainous characters. I still really like the world of magic and dragons and I am hoping the next book has more of both. 2.5/5 stars.
December 31, 2021
More dragons and regency romance
This book picks up shortly after the previous book and continues the overarching story with the focus on a different couple. It was smooth and enjoyable. I look forward to book 3.
This book picks up shortly after the previous book and continues the overarching story with the focus on a different couple. It was smooth and enjoyable. I look forward to book 3.
April 13, 2023
Loved this story so much
The characters grow so much in this volume. I particularly enjoyed that we get to know more about dragon lore and its place in this society. There is action and enough romance to keep the story alive. My only pet peeve is the cover. It's such a letdown after the first volume and this didn't do any justice to Eliza and her beautiful dark skin.
The characters grow so much in this volume. I particularly enjoyed that we get to know more about dragon lore and its place in this society. There is action and enough romance to keep the story alive. My only pet peeve is the cover. It's such a letdown after the first volume and this didn't do any justice to Eliza and her beautiful dark skin.
January 19, 2023
Entertaining but not as Good as the First
While An Elusive Dragon was not as good as the first book in the Dragons of Mayfair trilogy, it was a fun & entertaining, quick read. The story continues not long after the events of the previous book, A Proper Dragon, & all of the characters we grew to know & love in that book are present in this one as well. The romance in this one was no so well done as the first, which involved well written growth arcs for both male & female leads. The romance took more of a backseat in this book, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as there is a lot of adventure & excitement in its place. However, I'd have liked to see a little more development of Eliza & Captain Party; in particular Parry seemed under developed. This being such a short book, I feel that it would have benefitted for adding a bit of depth to it's MMC. Eliza did experience a bit of development, but I felt that her character was inconsistent with the way she behaved in the previous book. These small issues with the romance aspect did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book, & I found the additional worldbuilding quite intriguing. I hope more revelations about dragons & the nature of their magic will be forthcoming in the final book. I am quite excited that Blackerby is the MMC in the next book, as I've found him a fun & interesting character since he was introduced. Bottom line, it may not be as good as the first, but it is just as fun & perhaps a little more action-packed than it's predecessor. The events of this story are also vital to the overarching plot with the Luddites who are trying to harm the dragon-linked. At the very least it's a decent bridge piece to the 3rd & final installment, & I can't wait to see what's next!
While An Elusive Dragon was not as good as the first book in the Dragons of Mayfair trilogy, it was a fun & entertaining, quick read. The story continues not long after the events of the previous book, A Proper Dragon, & all of the characters we grew to know & love in that book are present in this one as well. The romance in this one was no so well done as the first, which involved well written growth arcs for both male & female leads. The romance took more of a backseat in this book, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as there is a lot of adventure & excitement in its place. However, I'd have liked to see a little more development of Eliza & Captain Party; in particular Parry seemed under developed. This being such a short book, I feel that it would have benefitted for adding a bit of depth to it's MMC. Eliza did experience a bit of development, but I felt that her character was inconsistent with the way she behaved in the previous book. These small issues with the romance aspect did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book, & I found the additional worldbuilding quite intriguing. I hope more revelations about dragons & the nature of their magic will be forthcoming in the final book. I am quite excited that Blackerby is the MMC in the next book, as I've found him a fun & interesting character since he was introduced. Bottom line, it may not be as good as the first, but it is just as fun & perhaps a little more action-packed than it's predecessor. The events of this story are also vital to the overarching plot with the Luddites who are trying to harm the dragon-linked. At the very least it's a decent bridge piece to the 3rd & final installment, & I can't wait to see what's next!
November 2, 2022
A Charming Flight of Fancy
This is the second book about an alternative Regency England where dragons bond with humans and share magic. Eliza is visiting her married friends on the Dorset coast where fanatics are trying to destroy all the nation's dragons and dragon bonded humans and open the country to a French invasion. Eliza and her dragon and her friends are among their targets.
The rebellious Eliza, a Dominican heiress, chafes at her guardian's authority over her. Her protector is bound by propriety to keep his distance. But all that changes when Lyme Regis becomes a battleground and dragons, their companions and ordinary humans unite to protect England and its dragon heritage.
The blend of engaging fantasy, witty repartee and parallels with real historical events combine for an absorbing read. I plan to stay bound to these dragons for the next flight.
This is the second book about an alternative Regency England where dragons bond with humans and share magic. Eliza is visiting her married friends on the Dorset coast where fanatics are trying to destroy all the nation's dragons and dragon bonded humans and open the country to a French invasion. Eliza and her dragon and her friends are among their targets.
The rebellious Eliza, a Dominican heiress, chafes at her guardian's authority over her. Her protector is bound by propriety to keep his distance. But all that changes when Lyme Regis becomes a battleground and dragons, their companions and ordinary humans unite to protect England and its dragon heritage.
The blend of engaging fantasy, witty repartee and parallels with real historical events combine for an absorbing read. I plan to stay bound to these dragons for the next flight.
December 7, 2021
It was a cute story plot overall but there were quite a few inaccuracies for that era that really lessened my enjoyment of the story. For example, a woman of means and status would have had a maid to assist her. I can't remember all of them but I was surprised because this author is usually very good at keeping her stories historically accurate. I don't know what happened with this one. It was fun to see some of the previous characters and I liked the dragon's role in this one. I will say that the cover on this one is ugly and I hope she updates it.
Content:
Language: none
Sexual: kissing
Violence: mild
Content:
Language: none
Sexual: kissing
Violence: mild
February 17, 2024
I have to admit that I enjoyed the first book a lot more, but still liked this one and will continue the trilogy. The magic and the mixture of the historical setting with fantasy and dragons was still as unique and interesting, as before. I think that maybe the characters and the relationship wasn't as well developed as in the first book, so I didn't feel that engaged this time. I did enjoy all of the seaside scenes and sea-themed moments, so to say. And of course, I enjoyed the mystery of the dragons and that we learned more about them in this installment :)
July 22, 2024
Fun story. I'm going to agree with the other reviewers who said the story could have been a lot longer and the relationship could be more developed, but I picked this in part because it was a novella so it would be dumb to complain about the length. On the other hand, if Wheeler had wanted to make this story three times the size, I'd have loved to delve more into the world of dragonish things and learn more about the relationships with the dragons, plus I'd have liked to see more development of the romance. Overall, this was a good story.
August 1, 2022
2.5 rounded up.
Definitely not badly written, but ultimately disappointing and it has to do entirely with the central relationship. I just didn't get it. The two of them just didn't and couldn't fit in my head. Eliza only seemed to like him because he was hot and Parry seemed to like her because... she was pretty? Idk. I just wasn't rooting for them and didn't care all that much when they got together.
Definitely not badly written, but ultimately disappointing and it has to do entirely with the central relationship. I just didn't get it. The two of them just didn't and couldn't fit in my head. Eliza only seemed to like him because he was hot and Parry seemed to like her because... she was pretty? Idk. I just wasn't rooting for them and didn't care all that much when they got together.
September 20, 2022
Mary Anning is a real person - that deserves a star
A bit messy in parts (what happened to the dinner party? - I was dying to hear about the nasty characters left behind). Overall a Lovely mystery, action and love story, but what made it even better was the inspiration behind the character of the fossil hunter - Mary Anning, a real archeologist on that coast! Off to read about the real person now, and thank you to the author for pointing out her story in the Afterword.
A bit messy in parts (what happened to the dinner party? - I was dying to hear about the nasty characters left behind). Overall a Lovely mystery, action and love story, but what made it even better was the inspiration behind the character of the fossil hunter - Mary Anning, a real archeologist on that coast! Off to read about the real person now, and thank you to the author for pointing out her story in the Afterword.
February 15, 2023
Enjoying the Dragons of Mayfair trilogy very much. E.B. Wheeler's knowledge of Regency England is spot on, and so is her knowledge of Lyme Regis at the time. Lyme is one of my favourite towns in the UK, and it was delightful to see a little of it's fossil hunting history brought into the novel and plenty of reference to the young Mary Anning, a true heroine of the time. I do love the way Wheeler adroitly, and accurately, mixes historic facts with dragons and magic. A real winner for me.
July 25, 2024
I’m thrilled that we get to see what happens to Phoebe and Westing in this book! And Eliza and Captain Perry are always at such odds. All our favorite and not so favorite characters are back from the first book. This one is from Eliza’s point of view. There are new characters to find adorable and new dragons. Phoebe has great control of her magic here, and Eliza learns to not be afraid of the sea. An excellent second book in the series.
May 23, 2022
I’m not generally a “regency” fan…..but, I do like this series. The books have charming characters, Dragons, evil doers doing evil deeds, very few editorial issues, no cliffhanger endings, mysteries to solve, and did I mention DRAGONS? I am looking forward to the next book….I will curl up in my comfy reading chair with my morning tea and enjoy the trip.
April 6, 2022
Love!
I did not know what to expect when I read this book and the 1 before it, but I loved them both! They are great stories and full of excitement. The writer made you feel as if you were there, and I want to Ride a dragon!
I did not know what to expect when I read this book and the 1 before it, but I loved them both! They are great stories and full of excitement. The writer made you feel as if you were there, and I want to Ride a dragon!
November 6, 2022
"An Elusive Dragon" picks up shortly after "A Proper Dragon".
The Luddites are continuing their efforts to rid the world of dragons. The characters continue efforts to stop them.
It was nice that this book follows the same characters but focused on the romance of a different couple. I will definitely read book 3.
The Luddites are continuing their efforts to rid the world of dragons. The characters continue efforts to stop them.
It was nice that this book follows the same characters but focused on the romance of a different couple. I will definitely read book 3.
December 27, 2022
Another good installment in the series, I enjoyed seeing characters from A Proper Dragon, and getting to know a few of them better. The dragon/human relationships are different from other tales, it's an interesting take on it.
January 9, 2023
I'm disappointed by how not as good this second book is.
Eliza is an interesting character and deserves so much better! Both she and Captain Parry become so flat and boring here, a stark contrast to their portrayals in the first book of the series. 2.5 stars
Eliza is an interesting character and deserves so much better! Both she and Captain Parry become so flat and boring here, a stark contrast to their portrayals in the first book of the series. 2.5 stars
March 28, 2023
Book 2 in this series didn't capture my interest like book 1 did. I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been entirely from Captain Parry's pov. Eliza's version of "logic" made no sense to me, and made the book a slow read. I did however enjoy learning more about the dragons and their magic.
September 9, 2023
A good sequel
I liked seeing the characters again. Eliza's love story was not as in depth, but it was fun. I liked learning about the dragons and more of the history. This was a fun story.
I liked seeing the characters again. Eliza's love story was not as in depth, but it was fun. I liked learning about the dragons and more of the history. This was a fun story.
September 18, 2023
Even better
The second book in this series was even better than the first. The plot was good and the action was more exciting. I loved the new characters, especially Pearl! I hope the next book lives up to this one.
The second book in this series was even better than the first. The plot was good and the action was more exciting. I loved the new characters, especially Pearl! I hope the next book lives up to this one.
April 1, 2022
Loved it!
Fantastic second book in the series. Love the lore and the sweet romance between Eliza and Parry. Can't wait for more!
Fantastic second book in the series. Love the lore and the sweet romance between Eliza and Parry. Can't wait for more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews