Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley

Narrated by Jill Tanner

Originally published in 1998, Named of the Dragon is the latest offering by author Susanna Kearsley to become available in audio format. Ms. Kearsley’s books have been rather hit or miss for me, but I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the book did not totally live up to my expectations.

Literary agent Lyn Ravenshaw has been living her life in a sort of fog since the death of her child five years ago. She goes through the motions of living, but there’s a void that can’t seem to be filled. Plus, in recent months, Lyn has been haunted by vivid and terrifying dreams. As Christmas approaches, she knows it’s time for a change. She agrees to accompany one of her clients to a crumbling castle on the coast of Wales. Not only will the time away serve as a distraction, but it will also serve to introduce her to some well-known writers she has admired for some time.

When Lyn reaches Angle, the tiny Welsh village where she has agreed to spend the holiday, she meets a host of very interesting people. There’s Ellen, a young woman who is certain that Lyn’s dreams are far more than what they seem, Christopher, a charming author, and Gareth, a playwright who captivates Lyn in ways she can’t explain. As she settles into the castle, she begins, with the help of her newfound friends, to really examine the dreams she’s been having, making some incredible discoveries along the way.

It’s hard to say more about the plot without giving some key points away. Let me just say that fans of Arthurian legends won’t be disappointed with the direction Named of the Dragon leads. You’ll also find some references to early Tudor England, but the historical part of the novel isn’t as well done as it has been in some of Ms. Kearsley’s other books.

Ms. Kearsley is definitely a talented writer. She has a way with words that really makes you feel like you’re visiting the places she describes, and this gift is present here. I’ve always been intrigued by Wales, and listening to this book was the next best thing to actually visiting the Welsh countryside.

The romance between Lyn and Gareth is very slow and subtle. It’s also important to realize the story doesn’t necessarily give us the HEA we all crave. Instead, Ms. Kearsley leaves us with a sort of happy for now ending, satisfying, but not wholly so.

Narrator Jill Tanner has a number of audiobooks to her credit. I loved her depictions of the characters here. I was especially taken with her Welsh accents. She truly captured the lilting rhythm of Welsh speech. Her male voices were sometimes a bit too deep for my liking, and her general narrative was sometimes a little raspy. Still, her performance here was better than some I’ve heard.

Fans of Susanna Kearsley might be disappointed in some aspects of this book, but, overall, I’d say it’s worth picking up. Jill Tanner’s narration, though imperfect, brings the story to life.

Shannon

Narration: B-

Book Content: C+

Steam Factor: You can play it out loud

Violence Rating: Minimal

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Named of the Dragon was provided to AudioGals by Brilliance Audio for a review.