Book Review: The Becoming by Nora Roberts

About the Book:

Title: The Becoming

Author: Nora Roberts

Series: The Dragon Heart Legacy #2

Page Length: 448

Publication Date: Nov. 23, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Synopsis: 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. 

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

The second novel in Nora Robert’s Dragon Heart Legacy, The Becoming is a fantastic addition to the series! With strong, immersive world-building, a well-layered and dynamic protagonist, and tons of heart-stopping action, the story is a magical and exciting read.

In The Awakening, the first book in the series, Breen is just learning of her heritage and her powers. However, in this story, Breen is embracing and honing her abilities. She is truly “becoming” what Talamh needs to defeat the evil that threatens their peaceful existence. With guidance from her grandmother and instruction from the hunky Keegan, as well as the support of her best friend Marco and other new friends, Breen learns all that she can to defeat the evil Odran, a banished god and her grandfather.

Breen is such a dynamic protagonist, and I love how her story progresses. She is fierce and intelligent and so determined to succeed, and I was continually impressed with the way she handled all of the obstacles that stood in her way. It can’t be easy knowing you are the key to saving the world from evil, but Breen had a strong support system and a ton of determination. Breen thrives when busy, so she is always in a constant state of motion, and she accomplishes so much over the course of the book, especially in regard to mastering her abilities and working on her writing. Her relationships grow and develop as well, and I love how she strengthens her ties to Talamh and the people who live there. Breen also learns a lot about her father and her history, which I think helps to connect her even more to Talamh.

One of the highlights of the story is the plethora of wonderful relationships. Friendships, romantic relationships, and family bonds prove strong and unwavering. One relationship that I loved in The Becoming and continue to love in this book is between Breen and her grandmother Marg. Marg is so fantastic! She shows Breen in a dozen different ways how much she loves, supports, and understands her granddaughter. A wise and strong woman, Marg is not only a wonderful grandmother, she is also a great teacher and mentor. I think this relationship is important because Breen didn’t have it for most of her life. In fact, she didn’t have a strong and supportive female role model in her life until she reconnected with Marg, and it’s plain to see that both were missing the connection.

At the start of the story, Marco, Breen’s best friend, accompanies her on her journey to Talamh. Breen and Marco have the best relationship. They show complete acceptance and support and always have each other’s backs no matter what. Marco has a lively and effervescent personality, and he brings a bit of optimism and levity during some intense moments. Marco is amazing. He is thrust into this new, fantastical world, and he goes, blindly ignorant to everything because he loves Breen so much. There is nothing these best friends wouldn’t do for each other. Even when Breen uses all of her hardcore power, Marco stands beside her, frightened and unsure but willing to risk his own safety to support her. They have an unbreakable bond, and they seem to understand each other without even speaking at times, as lifelong best friends can sometimes do. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the novel.

Then there’s the romance! I love a swoon-worthy love story, and the romance between Breen and Keegan is slow-building, angsty, and wonderful. Keegan is super swoon-worthy, even though he has no idea how to communicate, and I love his developing relationship with Breen. They are well suited, though their relationship is not without its problems. Keegan and Breen are alike in that they both put the good of others ahead of their own needs. They are both torn between duty and desire, and they have to figure out if they can balance both. With their very lives and the lives of all they know at stake, they don’t take their responsibilities lightly, and I’m curious to see how their relationship fares as the story continues. Between the threat of Odran and his followers, jealous people, and other obstacles, their love will have to be strong to survive.

Another highlight of the novel is the immersive and layered world-building. From Ireland to the magical realm of Talamh, the setting is dynamic and detailed. Plus, Breen has a special gift. This gift leaps off the page and helps to create such a vivid and vibrant setting. As she experiences the wonder of being one with all living things, we can almost see this unique world through her eyes, and it is amazing! There is so much beauty in Talamh, and so many wonderful aspects (did I mention dragons? There are dragons, and they are brilliant!) are described, which severely contrasts the brutal evilness of Odran.

I also need to do a special shout-out to Bollock, Breen’s loyal dog. Like Breen, Bollocks is coming into his own and has proven himself a fierce and loyal companion. Animal companions are the best, and between Bollocks and the dragons, I’m in total adoration. I love that we learn more about these beautiful, magical creatures, and I have a feeling they’ll have a significant role in the next book.

I thought this was a great addition to The Dragon Heart Legacy. It’s immersive and suspenseful, and you can tell things are ramping up for an epic finale! Between the intriguing plot, the dynamic character development, the wonderful relationships, and the romances, (yes, there’s more than one, and they’re soooo good!!) there is never a dull moment, and I love the messages of empowerment and fighting for what you believe in. I’m so eager to continue this series and find out how Breen, Keegan, and the others fare when faced with the ultimate villain. Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance!

• The world-building!

• The suspense.

Favorite Lines:

Time’s never lost, just spent on other matters.

Mo bandia.

Knowledge is as much a weapon as a sword.

Talking about courage: “I have more than I did, less than I hope to find.”

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about the series? Check out my review of the first book!