Dragon Unleashed

The Fallen Empire, Book 2

By: Grace Draven

Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan

Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

A dragon shape-shifter and a healer with power over the earth fight a corrupt empire in this thrilling and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today best-selling author of Radiance.

Magic is outlawed in the Krael Empire and punishable by death. Born with the gift of earth magic, the free trader Halani keeps her dangerous secret closely guarded. When her uncle buys a mysterious artifact, a piece of bone belonging to a long-dead draga, Halani knows it's far more than what it seems. 

Dragas haven't been seen for more than a century, and most believe them extinct. They're wrong. Dragas still walk among the denizens of the empire, disguised as humans. Malachus is a draga living on borrowed time. The magic that has protected him will soon turn on him - unless he finds a key part of his heritage. He has tracked it to a group of free traders, among them a grave-robbing earth witch who fascinates him as much as she frustrates him with her many secrets. 

Unbeknownst to both, the Empire's twisted empress searches for a draga of her own, to capture and kill as a trophy. As Malachus the hunter becomes the hunted, Halani must risk herself and all she loves to save him from the empire's machinations and his own lethal birthright.

©2020 Grace Draven (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Grace Draven has outdone herself with Dragon Unleashed! She’s deepened and enriched the world established in Phoenix Unbound, spinning new twists and turns on an already magically compelling mythology. An epic tale of deception and greed that tests the bonds of family loyalty, Dragon Unleashed is also deftly woven romance that burns with sexual tension, then becomes swooningly delicious. With an original, sexy take on dragon shifters and a smart, self-contained healer, Dragon Unleashed kept me mesmerized and longing for more. This may well be Draven’s best book yet." (Jeffe Kennedy, award-winning author of The Orchid Throne)

Disappointing- skip this one

I loved the first book in this series- this one was awful - it took months to force myself to get through this. Nothing happens - it’s all about backstory with such a thin plot as to be missing. I loved Radiance, Master of Crows, and Entreat Me, but this was nothing like those. Just skip this one- it’s boring descriptions with very little action or progressing characters’ development.

Every world needs a dragar!

What an entertaining second book! Grace Draven delivers! The story of Halani and Malachus...brilliantly narrated by Katherine Lee McEwan...leads us on a colorful walk through the world of Free Traders and the denizens of the Krale Empire.

Empress Davilia, the evil ruler of Kraelag certainly deserves her place with other wicked woman of literature. Her abuse of everyone around her and her need for violence and death makes her demise satisfying.

Like all great stories, I'm sorry to end my time spent with the tribes from the Stars Dragona and the Free Traders. Thank you Grace Draven for sharing this story with us.

dissapointing

i really liked the first book and i was so exited for this one but it was very dissapointing. the story was not very exiting and I got bored. the last 4 chapters were a litle better but still not the best. overall it was an okay book. i wouldn't recomend it but it wasn't horrible either

A bit boring

2.5 Stars. Normally I LOVE Grace Draven books but this one just fell flat for me. I don't know exactly why except that I found myself a bit bored. It just took forever for anything worthwhile to happen. The pace was excruciatingly slow and I kept walking away from this to do something else. I'm also usually completely drawn into her books and love her characters but again this one didn't have that for me. I really loved the first book in this series but this one - meh.

Damsel acts stupidly and gets captured

I struggled to finish this story. Right before the climax, both characters start making poor choices. We need more stories where people face evil and resist it, rather than cooperate with it, even if that cooperation is not considering the consequences of one's action. This story disappoints on that level.

This is why I read so fervently

I can understand when she shots me in stratosphere after book draughts that happens more often than not. After several mediocre or bad books Grace comes to rescue and I remember why I love spending at least an hour a day living my imaginary moments. But I had a lucky strike this month and still this author manages to obliterate all others and leaves me to mourn the moment that blasted acknowledgement page rears its ugly head. Another great story and another long, loooong period of waiting for another of her gems. Thank you for existing and dear God for giving you this precious talent for storytelling.
Narration was a bit slow at the beginning but I soon realized it's perfect for this book. Also, I enjoy different accents and quite good differentiation of characters. So, 5 stars all around.

I loved it

Pure Draven. Action, adventure and romance. It is a different story from the first book. It as an appeal of its own.

Wonderful Story!

Another win for Grace Draven!

This story starts where Phoenix Unbound ends. You get to see Gilene saying goodbye to Halani of the free traders, and then hers and Malachus’ story begins.

I do not want to give away anything, but I’ll say this: There’s adventure, friendship, love, betrayal and everything in between. Plus there be DRAGONS!!!

Do not miss this wonderful story by Grace Draven, beautifully narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan.

Highly recommended audiobook.

Enjoyable Draven atmospheric

This book picks up from Phoenix Unbound when Azarion finds Gilene in the market where she’s been traveling with Free Traders. But this story belongs to Halani of the Free Traders and Malachus the traveler from Winosia, who fall in love on the road to facing and overcoming the surviving Queen of Krael. This story has Draven’s hallmark imagery and atmosphere for you to enjoy along the way.
McEwan does a wonderful job of narration.

unleash the dragon already

I'm only on chapter 15 and I'm sadly unimpressed. I love how this author writes but that's really all that's keeping me going at this point.Virtually nothing is happening and things are going day to day. The romance so far is bland which is uncharacteristic of this writer. It's just a bunch of back story in the form of random thoughts at different points with no progression. I'm holding out anyway and hoping it gets better but my hopes aren't high.

Never Fails to Entertain

Another massive hit for Grace Draven. She has fast become one of my all time authors. Great Narrator - brilliant story and a definite re- listen. Amazing story line. Two great H and H. Worth a credit all day long!