Review: Lyra’s father is missing, and she will stop at nothing to find him, even if it means teaming up with an ice cold fallen angel
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 21, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Lyra’s father is missing, and she will stop at nothing to find him, even if it means teaming up with an ice cold fallen angel. All is not as it seems, however, and she soon learns that even the coldest angel can thaw when the right woman comes along.Opening Sentence: Lyra Slade stepped into Dragon Arts, a felt bag clutched in her hand.The Review:I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I’m not a huge fan of novellas, especially if they depict a romance because it feels like the couple goes from meeting to being in love in an incredibly fast period of time. This story was no different. That being said, the novella did end up doing its job, which was to get me interested in this new series by Jaime Rush.Lyra’s father is missing. The clues that she has lead her to Archer, a Caido (fallen angel) whose brother is also missing. Archer wants nothing to do with her and basically kicks Lyra out of his place. What’s a girl to do but follow him until he gets annoyed and lets her work with him? As they continue their search, sparks begin to fly, and this couple who at first disliked each other now find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. The danger is mounting though. Will they find their family members in time? Will they be able to figure out a way for an angel and a dragon to be together?I think the most interesting thing about this story is the Caidos themselves. I’ve never read an angel story where the angels can feel others’ emotions, and those emotions – even happiness – cause the angels pain. They can’t even stand to be touched, which causes them to be very reclusive and seen as arrogant. Ironically, their appearance is such that people are drawn toward them. I find this idea fascinating, and I would love to see a full length book featuring more of the Caido so I can learn more about them.As for Lyra and Archer as characters, I had a hard time really connecting to Lyra. She’s impulsive and doesn’t always think things through, which is a trait I don’t typically like in a heroine. Given my fascination with the Caido though, I obviously liked Archer. I really enjoyed seeing him thaw out as the story progressed. He’s not nearly as cold as he first seems, and it’s great to get to see his real personality shine through.This novella is a good set up for The Hidden series. While I didn’t like how short the story was, it definitely peaked my interest in this world that Jaime Rush has created. I will definitely be reading the first full length book in The Hidden series!Notable Scene:“Is being touched painful, too?”He hesitated. “It’s not the touch itself but the emotions behind it. If you touch someone, it’s often out of anger, comfort, or desire.”“Desire hurts, too?”“It hurts the most, your desire – for example – and my own.”Her desire. Gawd, he’d been feeling it all along. “That what Kye was talking about, pleasure and no pain. what cruel irony, that women are drawn to you, and it hurts when they are. Who relegated you to this existence of pain and torment? Luca?”“Luca punished the angels by making desire painful so they would never be tempted by humans again. Unfortunately, it carried through to their progeny. The rest is, I think, a result of the opposing natures of angel and human.”Could he feel her compassion, the ache flowing through her? “So you shut off your desires.”His gaze dropped to her mouth for just a second. “Out of necessity.”“You do feel desire? Can feel it, anyway?” She struggled against the pull to move closer. “When you see a beautiful woman, like those at the club, you must have to fight it.”“I have spent the last fifty years unaffected by any woman.” Chagrin was clear in his voice when he added, “Until you, Dragon Girl.”FTC Advisory: Forever Yours/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Dragon Rising. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.