Carly's Reviews > Bring the Heat

"Who is this big-shouldered woman," one of the tribal leaders demanded, "that she believes she can speak among men?"
Brannie, with her head still pounding, her cousin smirking, and some human male attempting to look down on her despite the fact she towered over him, snarled, "I am Branwen the Awful. Captain of the First and Fifteenth Companies of the Dragon Queen's Armies. Daughter of Ghleanna the Decimator and Bram the Merciful. And best friends forever with Iseabail the Dangerous. That's who I am. And who the battle-fuck are you?"

~

Aidan stared at her for so long, she thought maybe she'd crossed a line. Not about suggesting that they might not get back to the Southlands alive, but by suggesting they'd still be involved somehow. Enough, anyway, to insist on a gift.
Uncomfortable, she asked, "Why are you staring?"
He never answered, but he kissed her. A sweet kiss that confused her even more.
"What is happening?" she asked when he pulled back.
"I like you, Branwen."
She smiled and replied, "Awwwww, Aidan…I like me, too."
Rolling his eyes, Aidan pushed her back on the bed and settled between her thighs.
"Why do I bother?" he asked her.
And, laughing, Brannie admitted, "I have no idea!"


So, the Dragon Kin series is, by far, one of my favorites. And this book was a great addition to the series. I've been looking forward to Brannie's story for awhile, and it didn't disappoint. The only bad thing I'd have to say about it was that it could have used more Branwen and Aidan together. More time "seeing" there relationship progress, but it was pretty par for the course, as I could tell. It's no secret these books, at lease the last few that I really remember, have a formula. The couple in question go on a journey together, usually with a few others, and hook up and catch feelings along the way. That's not a criticism, mind you. It works. And it's always a fun ride. But there is so much else going on that it seems like the relationship is building "off screen." I liked Aidan the Divine, he was a good match for Branwen the Awful, but really we just didn't see enough of them together. And I know that sounds weird, since the whole book is based on them traveling together, but they're only alone a handful of times. I just would have liked to see a little more of the change in their relationship, in more detail, as it happened, I guess.
Speaking of everything else going on…an awful lot happens in this book. Everyone makes an appearance. And that's one of my favorite parts of this series, I love seeing everyone from the previous books. Annwyl's little side journey was delightfully bloody. Lots of Keita in this book, which actually cracked me up. (view spoiler)[though I don't think we've ever seen any of her and Ragnar's 12(!) offspring…and I would very much enjoy that (hide spoiler)] The twins and Rhi make a few appearances, along with Izzy and Éibhear, though honestly I thought we would have seen more of them. Fearghus and Briec were around long enough to throw Gwenvael into a pit, and Dagmar and her kids were around long enough to argue. The Riders pop up here and there which is always entertaining. Caswyn and Uther make for great traveling partners, I certainly enjoyed them. (view spoiler)[but poor Puddles (hide spoiler)]
These last few books have seemed to have taken a darker, more intense turn. They're still funny, but with a side of kind of creepy and some of what is going on is a little disturbing. The Zealots are still fighting for their one-eyed god, and and the Southland Queens are still trying to stop them. I liked the set up that sent Brannie and Aidan on their journey together, I liked that it took them to a new place we haven't seen before. (view spoiler)[But I was seriously bummed about Ren (view spoiler)[And then I was super happy when Ren came back, I've been hoping for a book about Ren since Keita and Ragnar hooked up so I'm glad my hopes aren't dashed completely…yet (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] This book seems to wrap up a pretty big story arc that's been ongoing, but I really hope it's not the end. The "final" battle was slightly underwhelming, but it did take an interesting turn and it was pretty funny. There are definitely some open-ended questions left at the end of the book, and some new characters from the Eastlands that I would definitely be interested in hearing more about. I can really only say that I hope this isn't the last we hear from these dragons…because I want SO much more!
Spoilers below, but not too bad…and honestly, probably too many words. I wonder if there's a limit for that sort of thing?…oh, well…enjoy…


"Why doesn't someone explain to me what's going on. And why are you here, Branwen, and not with your troops?"
Brannie's eyes narrowed dangerously and she opened her mouth, but Aidan suddenly stepped between them.
"No, no," he said to Branwen. "We don't have time for you to start yelling again. And, to be truthful, I just can't listen to that anymore."
"But she-"
"Caswyn killed your horse," he suddenly announced to Branwen, causing his dragon friend to turn to him in horror.
"You treacherous bastard!" Caswyn cried.
Rhona leaned to the side to look at her cousin. "Awwwww. Not Puddles."
"He was injured in battle and I was going to put him down with honor!" Brannie yelled, still upset. "And that dozy bastard ate him!"
"He was dying anyway!"
"I still don't care!" Brannie snarled at Caswyn before she turned to Keita and barked, "And what are you laughing about?"
Standing a few feet away and giggling, Keita replied, "The Mì-runach killed your horse. That's the funniest thing I've heard all century."
Branwen gazed at her cousin for long seconds before announcing, "You have wide hips like your mother."
With a roar, eyes wild with rage, Keita shifted to a roaring She-Dragon, uncaring that everyone else had to dash out of her way or be crushed in their human forms.

~

Growling, Aidan picked it up again and put it around her shoulders. There was a struggle between them. Aidan trying to keep the robe on her. Brannie trying to take it off.
Brannie yanked the robe from Aidan's grip. "What is wrong with you?" she asked, still laughing.
"Nothing," he lied, stepping away from her. "Nothing. I…just don't want you to get sick. It's cold out here…and you're" - he swallowed - "wet."
"I'm a dragon."
"Yes, I know," Aidan snapped. "I saw your tail." He glanced off. "It's perfect, by the way."
"Really? I've heard it's stubby."
"It's not stubby."
"Huh."
Aidan heard that tone and immediately got defensive on her behalf. "Tell me you're not listening to those two idiots."
"Caswyn and Uther? Hardly."
"That's good because their 'stubby' opinion may be my fault."
"Oh?"
"It was when we met with you and Izzy that first time and Uther and Caswyn were practically drowning in their own drool while they watched you bathe, so I may have said something about your tail-"
"Being stubby?"
"I never said stubby. I said 'a little short,' assuming they would lose interest since they are definitely dragons who do like a good tail."
"They're that easily manipulated by you?"
"Yes. Yes, they are."
"I see. But you didn't mean it?"
"Absolutely not. I just didn't want Éibhear tearing off their wings for lusting after his favorite cousin."
"But you like my tail."
"Of course I do…" Aidan cleared his throat. "In a…non-lusty, just as friends way."
"I see. Well that's good, I'm glad you cleared that up for me."
"Me too."

~

She dropped her hands on her hips, sucked air between her teeth before asking, "Do you or do you not want to keep this friends-fucking thing going?"
In answer, Aidan pushed himself off the bed and moved in front of her. He grabbed the bottom of her chain mail shirt and lifted it.
"Arms," he ordered. She raised them and he pulled the shirt completely off.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping the friends-fucking thing going." He untied the material that bound her breasts. "Is that alright with you?"
"You still need to agree."
"Yes. I agree. No fucking as dragons. I totally understand it," he added as he unwound the cloth from her body and tossed it on the shirt. "Like prostitutes who won't kiss their clients."
"Are you calling me a whore?"
Smoothing his hands down her waist, he stopped. "No. Do you want me to? I've known a few She-Dragons who liked that sort of-"
"No. I don't want you to."
"Oh. All right. But what about dirty…and naughty?"
"Yeah, that's all right."
Grinning, he leaned in and kissed her neck.

~

The door abruptly opened and Zoya Kolesova walked in, shocking them both. But when she saw Aidan on his knees, her smile dropped.
"Oh. You have Aidan."
He pulled back a bit, clearing his throat. "Um…do you need something, Zoya?"
"Well…" She glanced at Brannie, then Aidan, then back to Brannie. "You will not be long with him, yes? I can be next?"
Brannie's entire body got stiff and her hand took firm hold of the hair at the back of his head. She clearly had no intention of letting him go - which he truly appreciated!
Between clenched teeth, Brannie snarled. "Get. Out."
Zoya pointed an accusing finger. "You Southlanders do not know how to share with others!"
"Kachka!" Brannie bellowed.
"Zoya Kolesova!" Kachka yelled from her room across the hall. "Whatever you are doing - stop it!"
"Selfish She-Dragon," Zoya snapped before storming out and slamming the door behind her.
Stunned, Aidan looked up at Brannie and asked, "Does she really think I have no say in any of this?"
"Penis-havers have no say. Those are her words, by the way, and she's said them…often."
"Well, don't let the fact that I'm on my knees confuse you, Captain," Aidan teased. "I'm in complete control."

~

"She's not unprotected," a new voice blurted out. "She's got her cousin Brannie with her."
Aidan looked at Caswyn and his friend immediately realized his mistake.
"I'm not supposed to talk, right?" Caswyn asked.
"Right."
The Empress pushed herself out of her chair. "Cousin Brannie? Cousin? Do you mean Branwen the Awful of the Cadwaladr Clan? Daughter of Ghleanna the Decimator also of the Cadwaladr Clan? That Cousin Brannie?"
Aidan cleared his throat. "My lady-"
"You have let loose a Cadwaladr in my territory?"
"I…I wouldn't worry. Brannie's quite…uh…nice?"
"Oh, well, if she's anything like her mother, I'm sure she's a fucking delight!"

~

"I've seen you put away three bottles of Rider ale that left you almost comatose. But half a bottle of Northlander ale that we shared? You might as well be drinking water."
"Your point?"
"You weren't drunk. We both knew what we were doing last night. We both remember every second of it. And since we're putting it out there-"
"Don't you dare say it."
"-I'm in love with you. There. Said it. Now what? Now what are you going to do, Captain?"
The fireball hit Aidan right in the face and a lesser Dragon would have been knocked back for miles, but his bastard brothers used to throw fireballs at him as entertainment from the time he could crawl.
But when the flames subsided, Brannie had flown off, leaving Aidan alone by the bay.
Head bowed, he took a moment to calm down. He wasn't about to chase after her. Capture her. Chain her up. Demand she listen.
No, no. That's how other dragons did things. Aidan was not like other dragons. He'd always known that long before Rhiannon the White had said as much to him upon their first meeting.
But he'd be damned if he let Branwen the Awful just storm out of his life!
If that crazy She-Dragon though it was over, she was very, very wrong.

~

"He loves you," Rhi said. "And what's wrong with that?"
"Everything! And shut up."
Rhi gasped. "But I'm the nice one."
"She's right," Talwyn said from her spot stretched out on the bed. "I'd be fine with you being unhappy."
Talan sat on the floor, his back against the bed's footboard and a book in his lap. "And I could go either way."
"I hate all of you."
"No, you dont." Izzy pulled Brannie out of the chair and looked her over. "Beautiful. Now go tell poor Aidan you love him, too."
"I will not. He tricked me."
"Aidan doesn't trick anybody. He may have smooth-talked you into dragon sex but that would be about it."
"I thought you were on my side!"
"Of course I'm on your side, idiot. And I want you to be happy. Aidan makes you happy."
"I can be happy without him."
"But why would you want to be?"
Surprised that the question came from Talan, they all looked at him.
"I mean, wouldn't you want to be with someone who makes you happy?" he went on. "Why would anyone want to be with someone who doesn't make them happy?" He blinked at Brannie. "Do you want to be with someone who doesn't-"
"Oh, shut up!" Brannie stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Gods," Talwyn said with a shake of her head. "Is it me or does love sound miserable?"
"It's you," Izzy replied.