4 Stars with a tiny caveat...I read the first novel, [b:Caged Warrior|15723597|Caged Warrior (Dragon Kings, #1)|Lindsey Piper|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362006972s/15723597.jpg|21398563], before I read this one. I was already invested in these two, and I'm really glad that I read them like I did because I believe it very much enhanced my reading experience with this prequel novella. Like other reviewers have stated, this book gives almost no clues as to who the Dragon Kings are or what their place is in the world. Though even Caged Warrior reveals things very slowly, I think it was possibly planned this way...instead of a prequel, this came across as more of a teaser.Hark and Silence meet in battle with each other...Silence on a mission from her captors, Hark running from some bad people. Completely opposite, these two complement each other in battle as well as in spirit, and it doesn't take long for their strange compatibility to turn to attraction and sexual tension. For Silence, Hark's nonstop chatter, obvious innuendo, and outright sexual propositions make her FEEL for the first time in a long time. Sometimes the feeling is irritation, sure...but more often it's a tug of sexual awareness and curiosity. As for Hark, Silence's silence is a challenge to overcome. At first, he wants to make her cry out in pain when he wins their fight, but soon he wants to hear her cry out his name in bed.Only in PNR can insta-love work as well as it does here and still have the ability to tug on my heart like these two did. The bond that forms so quickly between these two lonely souls is palpable. And once again, Lindsey Piper manages to take a brutal situation and two fairly selfish, self centered individuals and turn it into a love story. The sex is hard, fast, a little dark, with violence lingering in the background...because after all, these are warriors of the Dragon King race... By the way, this is not a dragon shifter series. The Dragon Kings are a race of people from five clans with different powers that they can call upon...at this point, I think that they revere the dragon as the source of their power.This series...(which I am LOVING) is not a nicely wrapped up hearts and flowers mating ceremony followed by world peace. So far, it's an ongoing conflict, with each additional character bringing new, intriguing meat to the table. These men and women are crazy, barbaric, and for the most part not extremely loveable until you get to know them a bit. Though I've got to say, Hark is pretty freaking funny!!I'll add some quotes and goodies closer to the release date. Suffice it to say, I haven't been this excited about PNR for quite awhile. And this author's carefully hidden identity is driving me CRAZY!!!!! I want more!!!
