Bring the Heat by G.A. Aiken
Dragon Kin, #9
Fantasy/Sci Fi Romance Comedy
August 29, 2017
Zebra
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “”Do you two mind? We have an empire to destroy. Move your asses!”
Aiden the Divine is just that… divine. A berserker in the Dragon Queen’s personal army and a member of the Foulkes de chuid Fehhan , Aiden is gorgeous, charming, humorous, intelligent, and very rich. A royal in his own right, he is ready to allow Branwin the Awful full and unfettered access to his body. But only after she stops laughing.
Branwen (Brannie) the Awful of the Cadwaladr Clan, Captain of the First and Fifteenth Companies of the Dragon Queen’s Armies, Colonel of the Ninety-Eighth Regiment of the Southland Armies, daughter of Ghleanna the Decimator and Bram the Merciful (Dragon on Top), has much more important things to tend to other than Aiden the Divine’s ego. Like saving a nation from a vengeful God who seeks to destroy them all. Of course, once this war is over and they emerge triumphant, who knows what could happen.
Bring the Heat picks up with Aiden the Divine, whom we first met in Feel the Burn. He has come back to the Southlands and reunited with his beloved Queen, the Mì-runachs, and his best friend, Brannie. He joins Brannie on the field as she leads her companies against some of Chramnesind’s zealots. When the mountains become sinkholes due to magic, Aiden rushes to save Branwen from being buried alive and expects some gratitude.
“Aren’t you going to thank me?”
“No.”
“Not even a thank you kiss?”
“What about a thank you punch to the face?”
“Is that my only option?”
Brannie and Aiden soon find themselves not in the thick of battle as expected but playing babysitter to Brannie’s cousin, Keita- the Red Viper of Death and Despair, as she plots, poisons, and pouts her way towards the Eastland dragons. Brannie’s not happy to have been pulled from the battlefield and her displeasure has her judging every move Keita makes.
“Oh, Keita.”
“What? What is that tone?”
‘Why did you kill them? Are you just bored?”
“Of course not.”
“If you’re that bored, there’s a whole battlefront where you can kill to your heart’s desire.”
“Ugh. Stop, Branwen. I killed those people because they had to die.”
“Because you’re bored? Or do the voices tell you to do things? Evil things?”
G.A. Aiken brings back her irresistibly humorous, snarky, action packed, violent and outrageously larger than life dragons and their human mates in the ninth book of her epic adventure fantasy series-Bring the Heat. Add in the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight Mountains of Despair in the Far Reaches of the Steppes of the Outerplains (God, I love these names) and a comfortable friends to lovers romance and you will be belly laughing till the very last page. Readers who have felt that the last few books haven’t done much to advance the arc will rejoice in the amount of acreage covered in here.
“You went to one of the hells and you came back with an army. That’s impressive.”
The continuously evolving world and multi plotted storyline keeps readers on their toes as Aiken gathers all the loose threads through the series and begins to wrap them up, putting the finishing touches on the larger picture as she brings this particular arc to a climatic finish. I love the massive reunion of characters. Almost everyone we’re ever met in this series makes an appearance as the Southland Empire and their allies all come together to interfere, insult, threaten, offer useless advice, and annoy each other to distraction as they each play their part in the war against Chramnesind. Their antics keep the story moving along at a rapid pace.
“There’s nothing wrong with a little crazy…never forget that. Hold on to that. It may save your life.”
“That’s really sweet. But we both know I’m way more crazy that a little crazy.”
Friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and Aiken perfects it with this couple. I absolutely loved Brannie and Aiden. Intelligent, witty, and loyal, these two are born warrior protectors. Some readers may be disappointed to see this couple isn’t as volatile as some of the other couples; therefore creating a more laid back and slow burning romance. Delightful banter and steamy sex scenes further solidifies this couple’s compatibility as they accept their attraction and act on it without a lot conflict, fuss, or drama.
“No f*cking as dragons. I totally understand it…like prostitutes that won’t kiss their clients.”
“Are you calling me a whore?”
“No. Do you want me to? I’ve known a few she-dragons who liked that sort of-”
“No. I don’t want you to.”
“Oh. All right. But what a dirty…and naughty?”
“Yeah, that’s all right.”
Bring the Heat is the book that fans have been waiting for and everything you could wish for in a fantasy romance adventure. If you enjoy outrageous characters, comical narrative and hilarious unpredictable scenarios, then look no further than G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin.
Grade: A
Recent Reviews:
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Under the Covers Book Blog
Publisher’s Weekly
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Once again I just couldn’t get invested or care about the “main” couple in this book. I *think* for me this series is action/adventure now and not in need of blah “they hooked up and are now soulmates” plot lines. Just give me the meaty goodness that is Annwyl (she was AMAZING!), Dagmar, the abominations, and all the other characters that have been developed so well over the years. But that’s just me!