Kirby has set himself up as a sort of freelance mage, offering wards, spells, maybe the odd potion, to whomever needs them. He receives a commission involving a castle in Wales, but he’s not sure of the specifics. When he arrives, the imperious young man who greets him informs Kirby that he is just there to “round out the numbers” for the selection of a new dragon rider. Dragons were one of the few mythical creatures that Kirby was sure didn’t exist, so he’s thrilled just to get to meet one. Much to everyone’s surprise, the dragon chooses Kirby as his rider. Dragons and their riders defend Earth from demons attempting to invade from another realm. The stern man who greeted Kirby, Cai, leads the team and seems to dislike Kirby. The second in command is Harlan, who shamelessly flirts with the new rider. Kirby finds himself attracted to both men, but he's sure they're way out of his league.
“DragonRider” is a fun action-packed fantasy set in modern-day Wales. Kirby is the classic underdog hero. A seemingly ordinary young man caught up in extraordinary circumstances who proves to be more than he seems. Kirby discovers magical talents that he didn’t even know he had. He also discovers an appetite for sex despite an ex-boyfriend who convinced him he wasn’t any good at it.
Kirby is a very likable character. He is a very unassuming kind of man. Even when there are signs Kirby may be a long-awaited super-rider, he attempts to reject the idea. His reactions to things seem very natural and fitting with the picture that gets painted of his personality.
We only get to know the two love interests, Cai and Harlan, from Kirby’s point of view. Although both men are dedicated to the cause of the riders, in most other ways, they are complete opposites. It’s easy to understand Kirby’s attraction to Harlan, especially when the second in command makes his interest clear. He seems like a very likable fellow. Cai is much more of a mystery that only begins to get unwrapped as the story progresses.
Where things end up is not surprising given the full title of the book. However, this is just the start of a series. The next book picks up the story from Harlan’s point of view.
“DragonRider: MMM Paranormal Romance” is available from Amazon (commissionable link).