The Becoming by Nora Roberts was one of my most anticipated audiobooks for 2021. Back in Talamh, Roberts brings betrayal, jealousy, battles and more await you as Breen Siobhan Kelly and Keegan prepare for battle.
by Nora Roberts
Series: The Dragon Heart Legacy #2
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Length: 15 hours and 36 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher, Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
A new epic of love and war among gods and humans, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Awakening.
The world of magick and the world of man have long been estranged from one another. But some can walk between the two--including Breen Siobhan Kelly. She has just returned to Talamh, with her friend, Marco, who's dazzled and disoriented by this realm--a place filled with dragons and faeries and mermaids (but no WiFi, to his chagrin). In Talamh, Breen is not the ordinary young schoolteacher he knew her as. Here she is learning to embrace the powers of her true identity. Marco is welcomed kindly by her people--and by Keegan, leader of the Fey. Keegan has trained Breen as a warrior, and his yearning for her has grown along with his admiration of her strength and skills.
But one member of Breen's bloodline is not there to embrace her. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran, plots to destroy Talamh--and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. There will be losses and sorrows, betrayal and bloodshed. But through it, Breen Siobhan Kelly will take the next step on the journey to becoming all that she was born to be.
Breen and her dog Bollock have returned to Ireland, but they are not alone. She has brought her best friend, Marco. Keegan, the ruler of the Fey, is pleased to see she practiced while she was away and they resume training. The time is growing near when they will have to face her grandfather. He is ruler of the Dark Fey and will stop at nothing to possess her power.
From the world-building to the different relationships, Roberts once again pulled me in. We spent a lot of time in Talamh and the capital of the Fey. This is the middle book, so Breen is learning her powers, making allies but also dealing with jealousy, suspicion and more. It was well paced with fun moments, desperate moments and suspenseful build up. We even rode dragons.
I absolutely loved the different relationships weaved throughout the story. Breen has a loyal friend in Marco, but is building new friendships as well. Her relationship with Keegan is complicated. If you are a fan of slow-building, angsty romances, you’ll be right at home. Honestly, I’d like to slap him when I am not rooting for romantic moments or confessions of the heart. My favorite character is grandmother Marg and the bond she has with Breen. For Breen, it is her first experience with a maternal relationship.
The overall story arc is impressive, and I love everything from the magic Breen possesses to the development of her skills and those of the fey. The villain is fearsome, as is his lair. I cannot wait for the final audiobook.
Barrie Kreinik is a treasure as the narrator. From her lyrical accents to the tone she helps sets, she brings another element to the story. The characters each have a distinct voice and she captured their mannerisms and personalities, added breath to these fleshed out characters.
Whether you read or listen, fans of fantasy will want to beginning the Dragon Heart Legacy. As with most fantasy, it is best to start and the beginning with Awakening.
The Becoming by Nora Roberts takes listeners back to the land of the fey as Bree and her friends prepare for battle. #Fantasy #Audiobook #review #BarrieKreinik #NewRelease #DragonHeartLegacy Share on XAbout Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts is the number-one New York Times–bestselling author of Whiskey Beach, The Witness, Chasing Fire, and The Search, among other titles. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series, written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 400 million copies of her novels in print.
About Barrie Kreinik
Barrie Kreinik is an actor, singer, and audiobook narrator based in New York City. Her performance work includes numerous Off-Broadway and regional theater productions, as well as cabarets, concerts, and solo shows. She received an AudioFile Earphones Award for her very first audiobook and has since narrated critically acclaimed books across a wide variety of genres. Barrie specializes in dialects and accents, creating colorful and distinct character voices in her audiobooks and often working as a dialect coach for other actors. Barrie holds an MFA in acting from Brown/Trinity Rep and a BA in theater and English from Cornell.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lorna
I waited to read your review until after I finished listening. I had to wait 2 months to get to listen from the library. So well worth the wait. I bet we have another year to wait for the next one. I love the characters and her friendship with Marco and love Marg as well. With all the different names at times I wasn’t sure who some of the people were especially after the battle. That’s the only bad thing about listening as its too hard to go back and figure out who is who.
Katherine
I need to read the first book. I haven’t read too many of Roberts’ more paranormal-y books but this sounds really good and I love the sound of the narrator!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
Wonderful review! Nora Roberts is one of those authors I’ve been meaning to try forever. My sister is a big fan of hers so I’ll have to check and see if she has the first book in this series because it definitely sounds like one I’d enjoy.
Nadene
I have this and the first book on my TBR. I hope to get to it sooner than later.
Sophia Rose
I forgot about this series and I wanted to start it. Glad to see how much you loved your highly anticipated book two and got me enthused about the series again. 🙂
Maureen @ Maureen's Books
I love Nora Roberts, but I haven’t read this series yet. I’ll definitely have to check it out!
Great review!!
Anne - Books of My Heart
I’m not sure I like her paranormal sorts of romantic suspense as much as her other books.
Wendy Williams
What a wonderful review. This book and series is on my TBR.
Melanie Simmons
I don’t know how I missed this series. I’m gonna have to grab book one. Wonderful review.