Dragon Rose--A Delightful Tale

Book Details

Name: Dragon Rose

By: Christine Pope

ISBN-10:  0615718523

Kindle Ebook

Publishing Date: November 15, 2012 (Second Publishing)

Length:  274 pages

If you love the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, you’ll enjoy Dragon Rose (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms). Pope takes the story and sets it in a fantasy land where magic is almost dead, but there are a few malevolent curses remaining from the time of the mages. The setting for the story begins in Lirinsholme, a town that is part of the “Latter Kingdoms,” which are regions that survived the mage wars.

Lirinsholme lies in the shadow of the “Dragon of Black Keep,” who turns out to be Theran Blackmoor. He was cursed into dragon form by a mage, and has lived in this condition for 500 years by the beginning of the story. Every few years, the dragon signals his need of a bride from Lirinsholme. The town elders gather to write all the names of marriageable girls on slips of paper and draw the name of the next girl to become the dragon’s bride. The bride is never heard from again, which leads the townspeople to believe becoming the dragon’s bride leads to certain death once they enter the dragon’s home.

This story’s heroine is Rhianne Menyon, who is the eldest of three daughters born to a poor potter and his wife. As the eldest daughter, Rhianne’s expected to marry a rich husband who can help the financial stability of her family and aid her sisters with dowries.

The story begins when Rhianne is caught in the act of doing work that women should never do—painting pottery. This is considered man’s work. With the approval of her parents, Rhianne had been helping out with pottery painting while he father was too ill to work. As a result of this shameful discovery, Rhianne’s fiancé decides to end their engagement and a huge scandal results when the townspeople learn of Rhianne’s shameful conduct unbecoming a woman.

In the meantime, the dragon has signalled his need of a bride. The elders spring into action and gather all the marriageable girls together for the dragon’s bride drawing. Rhianne and her best friend Lilianth (who’s about to be married to a local love) are forced to attend the drawing, as both are of marriageable age. When Lilianth’s name is drawn, Rhianne volunteers to become the dragon’s bride in her place.

Rhianne is taken away to what she and her family believe to be certain death. She travels to the dragon’s castle, to realize the marriage will take place almost immediately. She doesn’t meet Theran until the wedding ceremony, where she sees a tall man hidden under a cloak and cowl. They are married and then have a wedding feast, where they are they only guests. There is no wedding night.

Rhianne is given her own suite of rooms in the castle, where she is provided with jewels, dresses and more. She is overwhelmed by the fact that these were the possessions of the dragon brides before her. However, Rhianne is given servants who look after her and is granted permission to paint as she will.

Each night Rhianne and Theran have dinner together, getting to know one another through every day chit chat. Theran is always covered in the cloak and cowl, so Rhianne is never able to see his face. He also wears gloves at all times, though some inner heat seems to emanate from him. Theran seems to want to keep her at arm’s length and Rhianne is left to wonder why the dragon needs to take a bride, when they do not have a typical marriage. She finds the castle is rife with mysteries and secrets that none will discuss with her. Rhianne wants to learn what happened to the previous dragon’s brides and what will eventually befall her own fate.

Pope has a talent for keeping the mystery going, while building the relationship between Rhianne and Theran. She keeps you hooked to the book—you don’t want to put it down—until you get to the end. Then you want more!

All the characters are believable, especially Rhianne and Theran. Theran on occasion displays his terrifying shape as a dragon, which leaves you concerned for Rhianne’s eventual fate. Pope generates the emotions Rhianne feels, making them come alive for the reader. The setting of the castle and the fantasy world are also well-developed and realistic. The romance between Rhianne and Theran is sweet and chaste, though Pope lets Rhianne have the normal longings a bride has for her husband.

I read this book while I was sick with a bad cold. It made for great reading—I didn’t want this book down, and only did so when I was too tired to read further!

I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good fantasy/mystery/clean romance novel. This book is #2 in the Tales of the Latter Kingdoms series.

*Disclosure:  I bought this book with my own funds and have not received any compensation for this review. This review is my own opinion.