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Youlton is an ice wizard that is dedicated to helping people, even when they fear and hate what he is. He is the last of his kind, and the only one that can repair the shield that protects his small corner of the world. When asked to repair it, he is told that he will receive payment for his services in healing the breech. His servants find that healing the shield nearly kills him, and instead of the payment that was promised, the village elder gives them a key. While his helpers are furious, Youlton is unconscious and the village elder promised that the key will heal his frail body so they have no choice but to take it. What Youlton finds when he wakes up is beyond his wildest dreams, and does more for him that merely heal his body.
Garyn is a dragon that has been held prisoner for longer than he cares to remember. He can shape shift into human form, male or female, as well as his dragon form, but he
can't leave his prison. When the wizard shows up in his prison, he can't believe his luck.
Youlton's people were the one's who imprisoned him. Garyn decides to do everything in his power to use Youlton to escape. In order to accomplish this, Garyn decides that he has to seduce Youlton to make him fall in love with him and free him. Unfortunately, the more time he spends with Youlton, the more he finds himself falling into the very trap that he has set for his prey.
I really liked both characters and was completely drawn into the story. I was a little confused about what was going on in the story at first, because Garyn is a complicated character. He was really genderless shifter, and could accommodate Youlton anyway he wanted it. Garyn had been abused throughout his imprisonment, and because of that comes across as a jerk at first. When I found out what his past was like, I
couldn't understand why he wasn't even worse than he was. Youlton comes across as a gentle soul at first, and is almost too nice. When I understood him better I realized that he has a stubborn streak that just
won't quit. I thought it was great that Stephanie Burke was able to make these two people really seem to care about each other in such a short period of time. There is some same gender sex, and a little bit of BDSM in the story, but it all falls together seamlessly and makes the story believable. Definitely one that
shouldn't be missed!
Reviewed by Julie Bryan
for The Road to Romance
May 20, 2005
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