Barbarian Prince

Dragon Lords, Book 1 (Anniversary Edition)

By: Michelle M. Pillow

Narrated by: Mason Lloyd

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Breaking up was never so hard...

Going undercover at a mass wedding as a bartered bride, Morrigan Blake has every intention of getting off the barbaric planet just as soon as it's over. Or, more correctly, just as soon as she captures footage of the mysterious princes rumored to be in attendance. After a euphoric night, Morrigan discovers her spaceship left without her, and Ualan of Draig is claiming she's his wife. It's not exactly the story this reporter had in mind. And to make matters worse, the all-too-seductive alpha refuses to take no for an answer.

Being cursed by the gods was never so frustrating...

Prince Ualan is prepared to follow dragonshifter tradition and marry the woman revealed to him during the Breeding Festival. When the stubborn, yet achingly sexy, Morrigan refuses to accept their shared fate and his supreme authority over her, it is all he can do to keep from acting like the barbarian she accuses him of being.

About the series: The dragon shifting Princes have no problem with commitment. In one night, they will meet and choose their life mate in a simplistic ceremony involving the removing of masks and the crushing of crystals. With very few words spoken and the shortest, most bizarre courtship in history, they will bond to their women forever. And once bonded, these men don't let go. Too bad nobody explained this to their brides.

©2004 Michelle M. Pillow (P)2014 Michelle M. Pillow

Loved It! Creative, Sexy and Funny!

Barbarian Prince is more of a Sci-Fi romance than true shifter story; however, after the first couple of chapters, I was falling in love with the story. It was creative, sexy, realistic, and full of laughs. Michelle really did an awesome job with the world building, and was very clever with some of the rituals she thought up.

May Contain some spoilers:
Morrigan finds herself stranded, and married to Ualan by accident, and does her best to convince Ualan they are not meant to be, and she won't make a good wife. Morrigan, in her frustrations, unwittingly declares herself a slave, and due to their customs, she ends up having to play the part. Ualan could have her pardoned for her declarations, but he wants Morrigan to admit she's his wife, and to teach her a lesson. However, both of their plans backfire, because while Morrigan is consider Ualan's slave, he cannot pleasure her, and their sexual frustrations grow. Their "battle of the sexes" was funny, steamy, and sexy, I found myself laughing out loud.

Between paranormal and sci-fi romances, sci-fi romances are the most realistic to me, and many aspects of this story felt real. As long as I lived on earth, I've never seen a vampire, shape shifter or any other supernatural being. However, outer space exploration is relatively new for mankind, and we've only seen a small glimpse so far, so we truly do not know what's out there, but the possibilities are endless.

Mason did a great job narrating this story! I liked how he portrayed the male and female characters, along with the different emotions.

I Loved every minute, and will be continuing the series by any means necessary credit or sale.

So So, it could have been better.

First I would like to say that this book didn't suck. It is interesting in that the setting and storyline are unique. I loved the premiss, I mean who doesn't love space dragons?

However, I found the main female character was presented in an inconsistant manner. For example, she is a highly respected investigative reporter, who has traveled to many planets, experenced many cultures and yet she does not act with the intellegence and cultural savy that such a career should bring. This made it difficult for me to respect her. If she had been protrayed as a reporter's assistant who was trying to break into the field, then I would have found her "issues" more sympathetic.
So I found myself cringing everytime her internal dialogue mentioned anything about her job or her competency.

emotional

Would you consider the audio edition of Barbarian Prince to be better than the print version?

Well. yeah because i enjoy audio but i would read also.

What other book might you compare Barbarian Prince to and why?

Maybe Christine Feehans Carpathian books. The Carpathians find their life mate and this is the only one for them. In this book once they were shown the bride for them that was it for the as well. the one and only.

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

No. But i look forward to more books with him. His voice is fantastic and the book for me. He really brought out the Prince's voice.

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

Most definitely.

Any additional comments?

I love this book. I have found a new series. This book had action and romance and laughter. I could feel Ualan's frustration. I felt for him trying and trying to win her over. I happy when she finally realized what she found even though it started out as a job but she found love. I recommend this series. This so good i am reading the second now.

Good, could have been better.

This was a good storyline, what gave it 3 stars for me was it was a 70% sex and talk/think of sex and 30% story. If the author would have done a 30% sex, and 70% story it would have been a 5 star read for me.

Plot? What plot?

Pretty much all this had going for it was a great performer. There really wasn't a plot, other than a whiny journalist who suddenly falls In love once she finally gets banged

Liked the narrater but not the book

Would you try another book from Michelle M. Pillow and/or Mason Lloyd?

Mason Lloyd yes, not the author.

What was most disappointing about Michelle M. Pillow’s story?

Not much of a plot ...just sex, very disappointed since it got such good ratings.

Which scene was your favorite?

none

What character would you cut from Barbarian Prince?

I might have liked the main characters if they weren't so one dimensional.

Any additional comments?

Wish the authors would have something to tell readers that" this book is just short of erotica."
I don't mind a sex scene if it integral to the plot but NOT the whole plot!

This will be a fun series

This will be a fun series I think, although I have come to them out of order – having read a bit back-to-front having read the Dragon Queen (book 9) first. A fun fantasy romance with a less-than wonderfully engaging heroine, Michelle Pillow dives right into the misunderstandings and arguments that serve a large part of the plot.

Morrigan is a reporter, and is doing an undercover exposé of Galaxy Brides. She is totally anti-marriage, and more than a bit selfish and spoilt. Her self-import is part defense mechanism and part insecurities, she is always feeling that she has to battle against someone or something to achieve her own ends. Fortunately, even though her mouth and behavior get in her way more often than not, she does come to develop and grow a personality that isn’t quite so abrasive with the patience and help of Ualan.

For his part, Ualan is singularly unhelpful to Morrigan when he discovers her total lack of information and knowledge about the customs and rules of the Quirillxen. She had a month to brush up, and apparently he felt that sufficient, even though it is patently apparent that she had not paid attention during the Marriage Laws and customs.

These two have, despite multiple miscommunications and some real humor in the reactions, a relationship that is developing as they learn more about one another, with an attraction that grows as the story proceeds. There is arguing – LOTS of arguing, and some tidbits about the world and the people around them, but truly this is Morrigan and Ualan learning to overcome their stubborn attachment to ‘what is’ and start to communicate. It’s fun in all of the missed connections and misunderstandings, but it really was hard to see these two in a happy ever after.

Narration in this story is provided by Mason Lloyd: the second book that I have listened to from him and his facility with accent, voice, pitch and delivery add much to this story. Smooth switches from character to character without over-reaching for the female voices, Lloyd keeps the reader engaged and intrigued, with carefully added pauses for dramatic or emotional effect that are perfectly suited to the text.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Ualan & Rigan

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Morrigan is beyond irritating. She is portrayed as smart, daring, and a world traveler. Yet, for this assignment, which she took on her own, she refuses to go through all the provided cultural information. She then makes assumptions based on her ignorance and blames Ualan for her idiotic mistakes. She acts very childish and destroys Ualan's home at one point in a tantrum.

What about Mason Lloyd’s performance did you like?

Mason Lloyd was a great narrator! The best part of this book. His male and female voices were awesome and his accent wonderful.

Any additional comments?

Prince Ualan is prepared to follow dragonshifter tradition and marry the woman revealed to him during the Breeding Festival. Reporter Morrigan Blake is set on getting her story but is enthralled by Ualan and accepts his invitation. The last parts of the book were good with the conflict with the other people on the planet.

I enjoyed the book but was somewhat frustrated

So this book was pretty good through not nearly enough shapeshifting for me... Would have liked to see a little more uncontrolled passion.

The frustrating part of this book is the lack of communication between two rational adults I mean REALLY .... Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say.
I have never understood those relationship conflict that revolve around being scared to let your feelings being known. Seems like whether good or bad knowing a persons feels at least provides a definitive answer that allows one to moved forward.

Grow a pair I say.... Life's full of failures and successes and a grown woman and century old dragon should be able to deal with life's stumbles.

Narrator????

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Female voice talent for narrating. It was very odd to listen to a book that was written in the perspective of a woman with a man's voice.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Male Narrator was off putting.