Sherrilyn Kenyon – Dragonswan

A novella in the Dark Hunter series, first published in September 2002 in the anthology Tapestry.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: yummy.
Re-read for the second time.



New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon delivers a special collector's-edition tale of unexpected passion woven from the mysteries of a celebrated ancient tapestry.

Beautiful scholar Channon MacRea has spent years studying the legendary Dragon Tapestry, devoting days and nights to deciphering the impenetrable Old English symbolism. Then one evening the unnaturally handsome Sebastian appears. He claims to hold the key to solving the tapestry's mysteries. Bearing magnificently taut and tanned flesh marked by intriguing scars of battle, he also claims to be a dragon slayer trapped between two worlds.
For Channon there's only one way to finally uncover the secrets of the intricate embroidery-by following the seductive stranger into a fantastic alternate world of magic, danger, and erotic adventure.


First sentence in this novella, and I am certain you all have seen it somewhere, perhaps on a bumper sticker, or perhaps you have read this novella:
Be kind to dragons, for thou art crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup.

That is of course one hell of a pickup line. Channon MacRea is busy studying the ancient Dragon tapestry in the museum, when the most gorgeous man she has ever seen, starts talking to her. He seems genuinely interested in her, and her thoughts on the tapestry. He is not even taken aback when he finds out she is a history professor at the university. Instead, he quotes Beowulf to her in Old English.
Sebastian has no idea why he is so attracted to this human female, but he is, and he acts upon it. Telling her more about himself than he ever has before. Usually, he only searches out a female to have night of sex with, and the only thing he learns about her is her name. But Channon is different. Of course she doesn’t believe him when he tells her he is there to steal the tapestry, and that he really is a dragonslayer. But it is all true…
Talking leads to having dinner together, and dinner leads to spending the night together. After that Sebastian will go back to his own time to save his brother, and will leave Channon behind to live her mortal life. But the fates intervene when suddenly the mating mark appears on his hand. He has a duty to protect her now. His enemies can sense her if they search for him again. And so he has no choice but to take Channon back in time with him. At least as a history professor, she can look back to the adventure as doing research …


I enjoyed this short story a lot, especially as I have always had a weakness for dragons, and Sebastian sure is a tasty one! He is completely torn between his human half who wants to keep Shannon safe, and his dragon half who wants to claim its mate. And that interferes with his magic in a bad way. He falls for Channon hard, and his world is just not safe for her to be in. He is outcast, he has no family or home to help him protect her or their children. But he also can’t give her up without a fight.
Channon is not a typical heroine, she is not pretty, she is a professor and very smart. So she doesn’t button her blouse correctly and her socks don’t match, she doesn’t notice it. But Sebastian does, and he doesn’t care. To him she is beautiful.
Channon is not happy that she is suddenly in the past, with no way to get back home than the next full moon and if Sebastian takes her there. To research the past is great, but to live in it? No plumbing, no central heating, nasty diseases and hygiene problems. How can she survive all that? But she does have her personal dragon slayer with her, and never has she been more attracted to a man like she is now. He is kind to her, and genuinely interested in her thoughts and feelings. He cares and it shows in his actions. After her first trepidation, she is fascinated with the ancient Saxon village she is visiting. And she can understand their Old English!

Of course it is a short story, so there is not much time for developing their relationship, it all goes very fast, but it never feels rushed. I liked them as a couple. There is danger, and fighting and hot love scenes and some sweetness and tenderness as well. I enjoyed it, and will certainly read it again someday.

The last sentence: Be kind to dragonswans for thou art gorgeous when naked and taste good with Cool Whip.

8 stars.





It is no longer available as paper booklet, but you can buy the ebook on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonswan-Sherrilyn-Kenyon-ebook/dp/B0023ZLMEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392555703&sr=8-1&keywords=sherrilyn+kenyon+dragonswan

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian