katskinner's review against another edition
4.0
It’s one thing to donate your life to a task, and another to actually achieve it. Aida’s about to find out that being married takes more than just self-sacrifice… somewhere on the way it involves trust and love.
THE BLURB
Aida was raised her whole life to complete one honourable task; to take a husband and help ensure the survival of her tribe. Yet right before her dreams become reality, her fiancé is promised to another… her younger sister. Dreams crushed, she know’s she will never meet another… until the skies darken with wild and violent storms.
Zaeyr is an ancient dragon. He awakens, hearing a mating call from a female dragon, and emerges from his years-long slumber from beneath the ocean waves. Finally he can have a mate, a companion that can match him in every way. Then he lays eyes on a small human whose unafraid of his powers and might… and he’s entranced.
TONE OF THE BOOK
To Mate A Dragon is a neutral toned novel. There are a few tension moments between the characters, but due to the shorter length no drama is dragged on unnecessarily.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
To Mate A Dragon is aimed at mature readers. There are a number of sex scenes that aren’t not suitable for an immature audience.
This novella brings about the topic of infidelity and trust between couples. It’s not looked favourably upon.
SERIES SYNOPSIS
To Mate A Dragon is a standalone novel in the multi-author Venys Needs Men series. Other authors to contribute to the series are Naomi Lucas, Tiffany Roberts, and Poppy Rhys. You can see all the books contributed on the series Goodreads page. Naomi has contributed three novels towards the series.
Each book in the Venys Needs men series are considered standalone. I would however recommend reading To Touch A Dragon before To Mate A Dragon, both written by Naomi Lucas. The events happen somewhat at the same time chronologically, however characters from To Touch A Dragon appear and are mentioned in To Mate A Dragon.
Each novel focuses on a different couple. Furthermore, all novels and their romantic stories end with a happily ever after.
To Mate A Dragon is only 160 pages long, making it half the length of a fully featured romance novel. It’s a fast read, designed for a quick and fun adventure.
REVIEW
Naomi Lucas tends to write alpha-style characters who prefer to dominate their females. Having said that, they tend to like stronger-willed females, and they have a very much protective streak about what they consider theirs. It’s a fun balance, and her works do not tend to merge towards the abusive relationships that other authors write.
Aida’s character development is impressive, especially in such a short novel. It’s amazing to see someone who is so self-sacrificing, especially to the point where their trust and devotion are abused by others, become strong. I am saddened that it took her so long, and that she’s so drastically hurt along the way.
Unfortunately for some readers To Mate A Dragon does have some scenes that are borderline cheating. One character in particular is portrayed somewhat as the villain and encourages cheating behaviour, and yet they are forgiven so easily since they are young and yet to experience repercussions. Whilst forgiveness is important in any relationship, I really felt that this character needed to truly experience the consequences of their actions beyond a few tears being shed.
An underlying aspect of this novella is the importance of communication; a theme that Naomi seems to carry across a number of her written works. Without clear and willing communication characters struggle, and they experience hardships, but once they start working together their problems are resolved.
I would have loved To Mate A Dragon to be a longer novel; Aida’s jungle world and Zaeyr’s underwater world seems to be teeming with life that invites the reader to want to explore. Even though humans can’t breath underwater, we can hold our breaths! It would have been amazing to see more of Zaeyr’s world.
FINAL WORD
I really enjoyed reading Aida and Zaeyr’s story in To Mate A Dragon. Again, its a novella I would have liked seen to be made into a novel instead, just to expand upon the character development and world.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND AUTHORS
If you liked To Mate A Dragon, definitely read some of the other books in the Venys Needs Men series. Other authors to contribute to the series are Amanda Milo, Tiffany Roberts, and Poppy Rhys.
If you are a fan of dragon-shifter stories, Ruby Dixon has also written the Fireblood Dragons series. A fun adventure set in a post apocalyptic world that’s been taken over by mad dragons. Only when the dragons meet their soul mates, a human woman, that their madness clears. The first book in this series is Fire In His Blood.
Erin Tate (also writing as Celia Kyle) has also written The Dragons of Preor series. The first book is Jarek(read our review). Shape-shifting dragons have landed on Earth, seeking women as mates. However not everyone are happy at the new alliance between Earth and Preor…
chadee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
queenofodas's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
yeriwithaj__'s review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dragon’s that make you weak in the knees
I am just loving these quick reads!
I have zero complaints.
Like book one, To Touch A Dragon, this book packed a really big punch in 170-something pages. I enjoyed the world, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the plot.
Onto the next one I go because I can’t get enough…
I am just loving these quick reads!
I have zero complaints.
Like book one, To Touch A Dragon, this book packed a really big punch in 170-something pages. I enjoyed the world, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the plot.
Onto the next one I go because I can’t get enough…
makenzie95's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brl5189's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
captainsugar's review
2.0
LITERALLY THE SAME THING WITH THE FIRST ONE only thing is that the heroine has a jealous sister lmao also that female dragon from the first one ? still left in heat lmaoooooooooooooo