Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven – a Review

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Description:
Magic is outlawed in the Krael Empire and punishable by death. Born with the gift of earth magic, the free trader Halani keeps her dangerous secret closely guarded. When her uncle buys a mysterious artifact, a piece of bone belonging to a long-dead draga, Halani knows it’s far more than what it seems.

Dragas haven’t been seen for more than a century, and most believe them extinct. They’re wrong. Dragas still walk among the denizens of the Empire, disguised as humans. Malachus is a draga living on borrowed time. The magic that has protected him will soon turn on him–unless he finds a key part of his heritage. He has tracked it to a group of free traders, among them a grave-robbing earth witch who fascinates him as much as she frustrates him with her many secrets.

Unbeknownst to both, the Empire’s twisted empress searches for a draga of her own, to capture and kill as a trophy. As Malachus the hunter becomes the hunted, Halani must risk herself and all she loves to save him from the Empire’s machinations and his own lethal birthright.

Review:

Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven is the second book in her Fallen Empire series.  In Dragon Unleashed, the heroes of this story are different than the first book, though in the same world; though we did meet our heroine, Halani, in the first book.  Halani is a healer, as well as having earth magic, which she needs to keep secret, as magic is forbidden.  Halani lives in a trading camp, with her mother, uncle and others she has been with for many years. 

Malachus, our hero, is a draga, desperate to find a mother bone that will allow him to shift to his dragon; if he cannot find the bone, he will die.  Malachus has been hunting for this bone for a long time, and when he arrives by the trading camp, he senses the artifact is close.  He has a vision of Halani and when he sees her by the caravan, he also meets her mother, befriending and charming both of them.  But later that evening, he is attacked by those who have stolen the bone, and it is Halini who will come to his rescue and nurse him back to health. 

Malachus stays in their camp while he recuperates, and in a short time, both Halini and Malachus feel a strong attraction to each other.   They both try to just to be friends, as there is no future, since he will leave as soon as he is better.   Malachus feelings continue to grow, but he discovers the group steals from graves to help make ends meet, and at first, he is very angry, knowing that Halani kept this secret.   But before he could leave, word comes that Asil, Halani’s mother has been kidnapped, and together Malachus and Halani will head to Krael, where the evil Empress Dalvila resides.  It is here that Malachus will come close to his mother bone; will he survive the evil Empress?

The first 1/3 or so of the book was a bit slow, but it picked up and the last 2/3 was a wild, action-packed, exciting adventure.  Malachus was a great hero, not only strong, tough, but very tender with Halani, and made friends with the other men in the camp.  I loved Halani, as she made a great heroine, being a healer, and her earth magic made her great.  I really loved them both together.   Will Malachus leave or find a way to stay with Halani?

I loved how when things were bleak, and the Empress was set on destroying both of them, Halani utilized her powers to try and save Malachus; she really was amazing.  Malachus was also a great hero, as he suffered horrible cruelty as a captive of the Empire. Dragon  Unleashed was an  excellently written fantasy that  had  a bit of everything from wonderful heroes, romance, danger, cruelty, great characters and an exciting adventure all the way through; especially the last 1/3 of the book; not to mention the delightful end.  If you enjoy fantasy, I suggest you start with Dragon Unleashed.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher