**This blog contains adult language and description of...ahem...adult activities.**
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!! This is a recap blog which means I read the book and tell you everything that happens so you don't have to read it yourself. Do NOT continue to read unless you want to have the story completely and utterly spoiled.
Book Description: Take one jaded unicorn, add a clueless dragon, throw in some of Mama Vee's famous 'shine and watch out! Things are about to get seriously h*rny. When a suspicious news report sends tracker Isaiah on a hunt for a missing dragon, he's expecting to run into trouble....not a college kid with crazy visions who might be his fated mate. Following the suspicious death of his parents, and the disappearance of his young brother, Eric's visions bring him home. If what he's seen is right, his brother is in danger and a hunky older stranger named Isaiah who claims Eric is a dragon might be the only one who can help. Despite the difference between them, if they want to bring Eric's brother back safely, they'll have to find a way to work together...and after one hot night leads to more than either of them could dream, the stakes grow higher yet. It's not only a matter of finding a missing boy anymore – it's about bringing home their family.
This novella was published in 2019 and it's my first time reading it. I went on a search for more shifter books and got lucky. Or maybe cursed? I don't know. We'll figure that out as we go along.
This story begins with a preface telling us that this series takes place after the events in another series. Apparently, someone named Sam is heading a movement to find and rescue as many dragons as he can and the unicorns are assisting. Hopefully that's all we need to know.
Chapter one begins with Isaiah. He's just sitting down with some 'shine when someone knocks at the door. He thinks it might be someone in his huge family but then he catches the scent of dragon and knows it's Sam. Sam seems nervous but Isaiah tells us that Sam's normal state of being is nervous so it doesn't seem too concerning. Sam tells him that a teenager named Miles is missing and he wants Isaiah to help find him. Isaiah is a little surprised he's being asked to assist the dragons (even though the preface told us that's exactly what the unicorns usually do) but Sam said he heard Isaiah is the best tracker in the clan.
Sam says he saw a news report on TV about a husband and wife who were killed during the course of a burglary. Somehow the burglars were also killed – burned to a crisp by a very localized fire. The couple's adopted son Miles is now missing. Sam thinks Miles might be a dragon shifter who has no idea what's happening to him and is now on the run after killing the burglars. He wants to track down Miles and his older brother Eric and bring them to the compound for education before anyone else gets hurt.
Isaiah agrees to track Miles down while Sam and some other dragons go to look for Eric who is away at college. Sam offers Isaiah some additional help but he turns it down. He likes to work alone. Isaiah goes back inside to pack, making sure to grab some horn powder. When the unicorn shifters file down their horns, they keep the residue because it has healing properties. They also use it in the moonshine. In about 15 minutes he's on his way to track down a missing dragon who probably doesn't even know he's a dragon.
Isaiah tells us that dragon shifters are often on the smaller side (under six foot and scrawny) because they have so much latent power that they'd be extremely dangerous if they were any bigger. They also belch fire when they're under extreme emotional stress. Which is probably how Miles killed the burglars.
Isaiah waits for dark and then travels to the house where Miles lived before he went missing. The house is still a crime scene and secured up tight, so he's forced to go around back and look for an alternate way in. He finds a kitchen window open and goes through it only to find that someone else already has.
Eric sees Isaiah come through the window and his first thought is that the older man is gorgeous. He smells like cotton candy and has silver eyes that are ever so dreamy. Eric is instantly drawn to him and he doesn't really understand why.
Eric tells us that he's had visions all his life – it's like he can see things through another person's perspective without being there. At first, he's afraid that he's someone conjured up an apparition of a person because a man being in his house makes no sense to him. The man tells him he shouldn't be there which confuses Eric because it's his fucking house. Or at least, his parents' house. He tells the man to fuck off and then threatens to call the police. The man rolls his eyes and says they'll both go to jail if he does and Eric argues that the police aren't going to arrest him for being in his own house.
The man looks shocked and says “Miles?” which just pisses Eric off. He thinks the man might be there to take pictures of the house for a website or maybe he's in with the burglars who killed Eric's parents. At any rate, he's so mad, he tackles the man to the floor.
Isaiah is shocked when Eric tackles him to the floor and starts hitting him with his cell phone. He easily grabs Eric and pins him down so he can't move. Now he can get a better look at him and he realizes that Eric's too old to be Miles. A feeling of protectiveness washes over him as he looks down at Eric and he fights the urge to stroke the man's hair and comfort him.
I don't like this. Eric is like 22 and Isaiah is in his late 30's. It's a pretty big gap but it's even bigger when you consider that Eric is just barely able to drink. Couldn't the authors have made them a little closer in age? It wouldn't have changed the story at all and it would have felt less icky.
Eric asks him what he did with Miles and Isaiah figures out who he is. He tells Eric that he's a professional tracker sent to find Miles and then drops the bomb that Miles and Eric are dragons. Eric doesn't buy it at all and makes some sarcastic comment about Isaiah being a unicorn mercenary hired by the faerie police to track dragons. I'm not sure how he nailed the unicorn thing so fast but Isaiah decides to go ahead and show Eric his horn.
That wasn't a euphemism.
Eric is startled to say the least and thinks he's having some kind of hallucination. He tells us Isaiah's horn is beautiful, like an ivory antler woven with silver. He freaks out a little but Isaiah tells him to calm down. He must have seen a man get a little horny before. Eric laughs and Isaiah's eyes go all adoring. Eric feels sensations that he typically has when he's in heat.....
Wait a minute.
We were just told Eric doesn't know he's a dragon so why would he refer to being in heat? Does he just mean aroused? Humans don't usually call it being in heat.
I sense some plot holes happening. I thought there was one earlier on when we were told the unicorns regularly helped the dragons and then Isaiah was surprised a dragon was asking him for help but I let that one go. This feels like another one. I hope I'm wrong.
Anyway, Eric's hot for Isaiah and he closes his eyes before he does or says something really stupid. Suddenly he feels like his mind is being tugged out of his own head and then he's seeing through his brother's eyes.
Miles is walking along a railroad track in the dark surrounded by trees. He's feeling terribly guilty for killing the burglars and he doesn't know what to do now. He's afraid he'll accidentally hurt other people since he has no idea what happened. His foot catches on something and he tumbles down the embankment, breaking his leg.
Eric slams back into his own head again. Isaiah is now kneeling beside him, his eyes worried. Eric decides he has to trust this man or he's never going to find his brother. He tells Isaiah that he'll describe the vision to him as long as he can come along on the search.
Isaiah is actually relieved that Eric wants to come along because he doesn't want a dragon just wandering around unsupervised. He gets Eric to describe what he saw in detail and then estimates how far he thinks Miles might have gotten on foot. That narrows the places to search down to about five. Isaiah grabs one of Miles' shirts for scenting and the two of them head out.
On the way to the first location, Eric asks how he could be a dragon without knowing it. Isaiah isn't up on all the lore really but he knows a little. After the big war hundreds of years ago, the dragons dispersed and did their best to live as humans. The gene passed down but not the knowledge. The “alphas” and the “omegas” are nearly extinct now but there are a few wandering around and none of them know they're dragons. Sam's group is working to find them all and educate them about themselves.
Eventually, Isaiah calls Sam to tell him that they can stop looking for Eric and then the two of them spend the rest of the day searching along the various railroad tracks. They find nothing. The next day it's raining so at least Miles has access to water but they still find no sign of him. Eric is distraught. On the second night at the motel they're sharing, he breaks down and sobs. Isaiah holds him and comforts him. It's pretty sweet.
He's still WAY too old for him though.
Isaiah feels like Eric is the missing piece to his soul. To remind Eric that there is magic in the world and anything is possible, Isaiah shows him his horn again.
The one on his forehead. Get your minds out of the gutter!
Isaiah tells us unicorns only let people they think might be their mate touch their horn. Eric doesn't know that, though, and he reaches out to stroke it. As soon as he does, Isaiah's world goes all technicolor. Everything looks more vibrant and beautiful – including Eric. Eric says Isaiah's name and it's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. His other horn responds and he can sense Eric's interest.
As soon as Eric touches Isaiah's horn, he recognizes that they're meant to be together because he starts to hear a song inside his heart. He isn't sure Isaiah is going to feel the same though. He's always felt like a freak because he's an omega....
Fucking hell.
These people can't decide if Eric knew or not. He literally just told us a few pages ago that he had no idea he was a dragon and now he's saying he always felt different because of it. This is such a glaring mistake that I can't ignore it anymore and I can't believe they didn't catch it while editing. Not only that, but how does he know he's an omega and not an alpha? Isaiah never explained the difference between the two and there's no way Eric could know when he didn't even know he wasn't human. Major points off here, Scott and Hawke.
Anyway, Eric thought he was destined to be forever alone but Isaiah changes that when he asks for consent for a kiss.
I might swoon. Someone actually asked for consent in one of these books.
Eric is into it and things quickly get a little not safe for work. As Isaiah is taking off Eric's clothes, Eric notes that his ass is “slick” which indicates he's in heat and could possibly get pregnant from any sexual activity that might take place.
I'm so fucking over this. HE HAD NO IDEA HE WASN'T HUMAN. Surely he doesn't think male humans go into heat and can get pregnant. He had to have a health class in school at some point. NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE. They really should have caught this in editing. It's a shame because it isn't a bad book really but this nonsense really yanks me out of it.
Eric has never been with anyone before so Isaiah takes time to make sure things go as smoothly as they can possibly go. Again, it's nice to see some consideration in a book like this. It goes on for a few pages and then they finish. Isaiah is impressed with the amount of.....ahem.....gentlemen's relish that Eric produces (if you know what I mean). He says it must be a dragon thing because a human doesn't produce that much. Good to know.
They share some sweet moments after, joking with each other and then cuddling until they fall asleep. Isaiah wakes up the next morning to find Eric visibly shaken. He says he knows where Miles is and they need to get moving.
Eric says he had another vision while Isaiah was sleeping and this time he saw some kind of sign in the distance that gave him a better idea of where Miles is. The two of them shower and get dressed and then set out. At first it seems like his vision might be wrong and no one answers when he calls out but then he sees Miles at the bottom of a steep embankment. Eric wants to rush down to him but Isaiah stops him. He says it would be too dangerous and there's no way he'd be able to get back up. He's pretty sure he can get down there safely in unicorn form though so he strips naked and transforms. When he's in unicorn form, Eric climbs up on his back and Isaiah takes them both down the embankment to Miles.
At first Miles doesn't want to be rescued. He says that he's afraid he might accidentally hurt Eric but Eric reassures him that it won't happen. Suddenly Isaiah crouches down beside them in naked human form and Miles is pretty alarmed. Eric introduces him and says that Isaiah is only there to help. Isaiah offers Miles the horn powder and tells him it won't taste good but it will fix him up. Miles is a little reluctant to accept strange powder from a naked man but Eric encourages him to trust Isaiah.
As soon as Miles takes the powder, Isaiah transforms back. Miles starts to laugh like a drunk person – which he probably is because the horn powder is also used in the moonshine – and says “Your boyfriend isn't just hung like a horse....he is one”. It's actually pretty funny so I'm not going to let myself get distracted by the fact that Eric never introduced Isaiah as his boyfriend.
The plot holes are deep in this one, y'all.
I'm sure there's a cheap joke there but I'll let you fill it in yourselves.
Eric gets the drunken Milo up on Isaiah's back and then climbs on behind him. Isaiah gets them back up to the top of the embankment and the transforms again. Eric is so happy he drop the L-bomb right then and there even though he met the guy 48 hours ago. Isaiah returns the sentiment and the two make goo-goo eyes at each other for a bit.
Isaiah and Eric get Miles loaded into the back of Isaiah's car and they head back to the compound. There are healers there and a lot of horn powder so Miles should be good as new in no time.
Sigh.
I thought he was already healed. Didn't Isaiah tell us that the horn powder would completely heal him? Now he needs more? Can these people please get their story straight.
Hire an editor, friends. You desperately need one.
Eric and Miles both sleep the entire way but wake up when they get there. Isaiah mentions that they'll take Miles to Sana the healer and drunken Miles thinks he said Santa. He gets all excited about meeting Santa and asks Isaiah if he's a reindeer. It's one of those ridiculous drunken conversations that will come back to haunt poor Miles for years to come.
Mama Vee and Sana come out to greet them. Mama Vee is the matriarch of the unicorn clan and Sana is a dragon. Mama Vee knows instantly that Isaiah mated with Eric because she can “smell the baby in him”. She tells Isaiah that he better propose. Miles gets all excited again at the news that his brother is pregnant with a reindeer and asks if they can name him Rudolph. Mama Vee is horrified that little Miles is hopped up on horn powder but they finally manage to explain everything and she and Sana get on with the healing process.
Eric and Miles eventually go back home to pick up their parents' ashes. The entire dragon and unicorn clan go with them. As they're standing there, Eric slips away and ends up seeing through his dead parents' eyes. They're on another plane of existence watching over their sons. It's reassuring to know that they aren't really gone but the experience takes Eric so far out of his head that everyone around him panics. Isaiah is beyond terrified but Eric eventually comes back and reassures Miles that their parents are still watching over them.
It's nine months later all of a sudden. Eric is overdue and uncomfortable so Isaiah tries to distract him by sucking his.....ahem....horn (if you know what I mean). And this time it IS a euphemism. The excitement of it all prompts Eric to go into labor. He eventually delivers a baby boy that they name Chance (I'm kind of bummed it wasn't Rudolph). Mama Vee declares that Chance is definitely a unicorn and the entire compound starts shooting off fireworks in celebration.
The Epilogue takes us four years into the future. Chance is chasing Isaiah around the yard while Eric looks on. He's pregnant again and there's no way he's going to join in on the running. His brother's best friend Zeke makes a sudden appearance and shyly announces that he and Miles are expecting as well. Eric doesn't want to picture his baby brother having sex and tries to block the information out of his head. He's happy if Miles is happy though.
Chance comes up and says that Isaiah gave him something to give to Eric. It's a gold ring. Isaiah appears and drops down on one knee to propose. Eric happily accepts and the book ends with their happily ever after.
I'm not gonna lie, despite the horrific, inexcusable plot holes and the very icky age gap, I liked this book. I'll definitely read the next one soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment