The Becoming (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #2)

by Nora Roberts

They waited, knowing the god threatened all worlds. He would again seek the blood of his blood, and the wheel would turn so the time would come when the Talamhish could no longer stop him. She, the bridge between worlds, must return and awaken, must become and must choose to give all, risk all to help destroy the god.

When Breen Kelly makes a leap into the unknown with a summer trip to Ireland in search of her father, little does she know she will find a portal into another world - Talamh - where she will find magic, family and a destiny beyond her wildest dreams

Breen is welcomed by most of her family and friends but there is one who is far from welcoming. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran plots to destroy Talamh and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. There will be losses and sorrows, betrayal and bloodshed. But through it, Breen Siobhan Kelly will take the next step on the journey to becoming all that she was born to be.

A tale of adventure, magic and finding your home, from global bestseller Nora Roberts

• ISBN10: 0349426414
• ISBN13: 9780349426419
• Publish Date: 23 November 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 7 August 2024
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

I just love the world-building in this series, from the setting to the magic systems to the characters. I also love the emotional depth of the stories, and that the sole focus of that depth wasn’t on the romance. I know that romance is something that readers have come to expect with Nora Roberts novels, but the fact that it isn’t given the priority is something I’ve come to love about her fantasy novels, that her characters are so multidimensional with stories that involve more than romance. For me, it’s the relationships that truly make this story for me, whether those of friendship, of family, and of romance.

I adore Breen as a protagonist, love her story as she changes and grows and finds her strength. She is so determined to learn, to become stronger in all the skills she needs to battle and defeat Odran, but she never forgets to care for the people around her. I also love her determination to be true to herself, to never compromise again and who and what she is… for anyone. That’s something that’s often difficult to do in reality, so I love the empowerment of that in her character.

There’s much to love in this book, from a cast of great characters to the gorgeous setting, from the rich magic mythology to the twisted storyline, from the slow moments to the action and betrayal.

[Quirky Cat]

Nora Roberts' The Dragon Heart Legacy continues in The Becoming. This is the second novel of the series, and I, for one, am inquisitive to see where it is going to go in the long run! Then again, I always was a sucker for dragon-focused novels (thanks, DragonLance!)

Breen Siobhan Kelly's life has changed dramatically in recent years. She's finally reconnecting with some of her estranged family members...and the powers she never knew she had. Breen still has a lot to learn but very little time.

As it turns out, there is a reason why her parents never wanted her to meet her grandfather, as he is not what the average person would call a 'good guy.' To protect Talamh, her new home, she must stand up against him.

“Time's never lost, just spent on other matters.”

Wow. It feels like it has been ages since I read the first novel in The Dragon Heart Legacy. I'm going to blame 2020 (and 2021) for that feeling. Despite all of this 'time,' it was so easy to slip back into the world with The Becoming.

If you love Nora Roberts writing, but have always wanted to see a little bit more fantasy with her works, then this is the perfect series for you. It's undoubtedly the perfect series for me! I love how well she balances fantasy elements with romance and vice versa. It all flows so smoothly.

Breen's adventure has not been an easy one thus far, but it's been really fascinating watching her learn how to control her powers and accept herself for who she is. There's something very human in that, despite all of the magical bits. Don't you think? Additionally, her sheer determination is inspiring on more than one occasion. In short, she's the perfect female protagonist for this series. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll admit that while I enjoyed the romantic parts in The Awakening, I hadn't really come around to liking Keegan. I think that The Becoming did a better job of getting me to like him (clearly, he's just one of those people you have to get to know first).

On that note, it felt like all of the relationships took a step up in The Becoming. Not just the obvious romance, but the friendships and families ties. All of it. That shouldn't be too surprising, given the cliffhanger from the last book (reminder: her BFF tags along for the ride!), but it was still refreshing to see.

Long story short, The Becoming is very much worth the wait (which wasn't nearly as long as my brain keeps thinking it is). I'm already looking forward to the third (and I believe, final) novel in this series.

Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks