Onyx Dragon

By: Terry Bolryder

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Isaac Morningstar III, or Zach to the few who know him, has hit rock bottom. Once an immortal, nearly-invincible dragon, he's been awakened only to have his powers and his treasure locked away until he can prove himself to be a trustworthy protector of humans. Since Zach has never liked humans, he's pretty sure he's going to end up back on ice. That is, until he meets sweet, curvy Erin, a human hairdresser who might just turn his world upside down.

Erin has a pretty routine life, but that ends when a tall, gorgeous man appears out of nowhere, claiming to be an ancient dragon with immeasurable power who wants her as his mate. She doesn't know whether to laugh or run for the hills. But when the mysterious stranger saves her life and needs her help she can't just turn away. Still, the closer she gets to Zach, the more she realizes there may just be something truly magical about him.

But as the forces around them close in, Zach is quickly realizing that the darkness lurking inside him may be greater than he anticipated. And the beast within may not be the only thing they have need to fear.

Warning: contains ferocious dragons, fearsome fights, fiery love scenes and a fiercely cute three-legged kitten that will steal your heart. The first in a brand new series with dragons unlike anything Terry has written!

©2016 Terry Bolryder (P)2016 Terry Bolryder

Pretty good story and start to the series :D

3.5-4 stars

This was a pretty good story. I liked Erin and Zach and enjoyed their story very much. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'll probably be trying more of her work in the future.

Erin is a hairstylist and the manager of a salon. She lives in a rather bad area of town and the salon gets robbed occasionally but Erin doesn't want to move because she has friends in the area. Erin is a kind-hearted person and goes out of her way to help others.

Zach is an ancient dragon born from an Onyx egg. The older dragons had more power than the newer version of dragons (see the author's "Dragons of New York" series) but they went to sleep centuries ago and then were put into a cryo sleep (all of which isn't completely explained but we get the general idea). Zach is waken from his sleep by an Oracle that has the power to control dragons. She worried that he wasn't friendly enough to humans so she collared him (preventing him from using his dragon powers) until he can prove that he'll be good to humans.

Once Zach is collared, he's sent to New York with no money and only the cloths on his back. He walks all day and ends up outside a hair salon. He sees a woman inside doing stuff to a man's hair and is curious. He walks in and sits in the waiting area so he can observe the humans but he's rather bedraggled from being out in the rain so the people in the salon think he's a homeless person. The woman he observed, Erin, came over to see if he needed help but Zach is a dragon and (not realizing he seemed like someone that needed to be pitied) takes a bit of offense at the idea that he'd need help. He does find himself drawn to Erin though and seeks a reason to be close to her.

Erin thinks that Zach is rather strange, seeming to be a cross between massively arrogant and crazy. She's not sure how to handle him but when trouble comes into the salon and Zach comes to her rescue, she knows she has to help him. There is a major attraction between Zach and Erin but with the way they're thrown together leaves both of them with reservations. Also, there's a lot about humans and this new world that Zach doesn't know about or doesn't understand completely so even when he starts feeling like Erin is his mate, he's unsure about how to handle things and if he can be good for her once his dragon is released. There's a bit of angst as things are worked out but the story does end with Zach and Erin happy together and heading towards a HEA.

This was an enjoyable story. Erin was a very good heroine and I Liked her a lot. Zach was annoyingly arrogant in the beginning but that soon faded and then it was much easier to like him. Also, he fell for a 3-legged kitten! Who could not like a hero with a soft spot for a 3-legged kitten?!?! The story was short but not in a bad way...while I wouldn't have minded it being longer, it didn't feel like anything was missing at the end. The story was very good and I liked the characters so I'd recommend this story. :)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Exciting and Romantic

If you could sum up Onyx Dragon in three words, what would they be?

Interesting new character.

What other book might you compare Onyx Dragon to and why?

I really have nothing to compare it to. I think that Terry Bolryder's characters are all so unique.

Which character – as performed by Tanya Eby – was your favorite?

Zach was my favorite.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I enjoyed listening to this book in one sitting. The story is so interesting and I loved the characters and storyline.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed all the books in this series and enjoyed reading as well as listening to them.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Keep the title -- it fits.

What made the experience of listening to Onyx Dragon the most enjoyable?

The narrator made the grouchy dragon fun to listen to. She did a great job with all of the characters. Sometimes, a narrator will not make characters of the opposite sex sound real and or makes the all sound the same. Ms. Eby did a wonderful job

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved when Zack found Bo and held him.

Any additional comments?

I read this book some time ago. This "reread" story time was a joy for me. Ms. Eby made Zack seem like a sexy Eeyore. His negative attitude toward humans was a little funny. Then his awakening to the fact that not all humans were so bad such as Erin. The first book in the series set up the series and even the next book without detracting from this story. Zack is a medieval dragon awakened from cryogenic sleep to become a human protector--if he can learn to deal with humans and not want to eliminate them all. Erin is a positive person who sees the good in everyone. He decides he will watch her to see if she can change his mind. His reward will be to regain his currently restricted powers. The "boss" of the protectors will release him if he mates Erin. She just doesn't know it. Can he meet the requirements? Will he just be acting or will she win him over? Another great read as are all of Terry Bolryder books.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great idea but needs more

The storyline could have been so much more. It is more like a sweet short story. I really wanted a lot more action and a little less sweetness. I loved the beginning when they meet. It even had a great bad guy but everything is solved too easily.

Not Disappointed!!!

I am a HUGE fan of Terry Bolryder on the written word. Now, being able to listen to the words of my favorite stories brought expertly to life by Tanya Eby made my day even better. I cannot wait to have more from Terry Bolryder and her dragons come to Audio! Onyx was fantastic and now I really can't wait for Sapphire and the rest!

OK read and great narration..

Well, mostly this was a semi-decent story. Except when Emerald/Aegis kidnapped Zack and Erin’s kitten. Good grief, you’d have thought the evil dragon had kidnapped their child. Their reaction and what was said to evil-dragon was totally stupid. Jen was watching the kitten and when Erin went to pick it up she answered the door she was glassy eyed and a real mess. Needless to say, Erin was upset because Jen didn't protect the kitten, not really giving the reader the impression she gave a damn about what Jen went through. Dumb, dumb, dumb. And when evil-dragon was chasing Erin through the forest with the kitten in a bag... It's not even worth telling you about.

How old is this author, anyway? Zack unfastening Erin’s “brassiere!” was the only other really ridiculous thing about the book.

Overall, it was a little interesting, now and then, story about a dragon that had been asleep in cryo for a very long time, put there by a powerful witch known as the Oracle, who brought Zack out and put a ring around his neck to stop him from using any of his dragon powers while he learned to cope with humans, and eat them. The first person he met was kind-hearted Erin and he knew immediately that she was his mate. And, of course, he left her because he didn’t think he was good enough for her.

There was 3 explicit sex scenes in this book and the F-bomb was used 1 time.

If any more of these books make it to audible I might continue listening to them. To see if they get better. Since, I love dragons.

As to the narration: Tanya Eby is one of my favorite narrators. Great voices and terrific emotions.

Absolutely fantastic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It was better than reading the book. I love all of her stories. I can't wait until the rest of her books are on audible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Zach is my favorite. Even though he acts tough, he is kind and sweet.

Have you listened to any of Tanya Eby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to her before but I hope she is narrating the other books in the series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!!!!!!

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Worth reading

Onyx dragon is a great start to a great series. It is funny, sexy and different. The narrator does a awesome job reading. Looking forward to seeing the other books in this series on audible. I also have this series on my kindle..

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story

Terry Bolryder does it again! Fantastic job with the story line and narrator was good. Can't wait for the next audio!

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Onyx Dragon: Awakened Dragons Book 1 by Terry Bolryder

This was my first audible book and I really enjoyed the experience. The narrator was easy to listen and easy to understand with clear diction.
This is the first book in the Awakened Dragon series which is linked to the Lions of Pride Island series it is Zach, Isaac Morningstar 111, and Erin's story. Zach's dragon has been restricted until he can prove that he can be trusted to keep the humans safe. Erin is an unsuspecting hairdresser who offers him a haircut when he shelters from the storm in her shop. Terry's books are always a great read and this is no exception , I love the humour in them, and this one is no exception. Well worth listening to.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Delightful Dragon story by Terry Bolryder

Would you listen to Onyx Dragon again? Why?

I will definitely be listening to this story again as it is a favourite novel and I thought the narration was done extremely well. I hope the other books in this series are also brought out on audible.

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoy the shifter world Terry has created and her Awakened Dragons and other dragon series are favourites of mine. Onyx is a medieval dragon suddenly plunged into the 21st century who has to learn to feel protective towards humans- with help from his newly found mate, Erin. Zach/Onyx awakens from a centuries long sleep, but the love of a good woman also gradually awakens the better, more caring and compassionate side of his nature.

Have you listened to any of Tanya Eby’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No- but I thought she did a brilliant job on this one.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Terry always uses humour in her books- something I really enjoy- so laughter rather than tears

Any additional comments?

I'm a big fan of Terry Bolryder's books and I was thrilled to find this one in audible- I hope that more are available soon.