Readalong: Dragon Bound (Part Two)
Why am I reading this? That’s question I’ve asked myself a few times. Be informed: Sign up post
I have been getting pretty personal on the blog lately. Here I go again! Rather than go snarky this week (which fellow read-alongers have got covered, and they do it so well,) I’m going to talk about the bits that made me uncomfortable.
My first couple of serious relationships were emotionally abusive. At the time, I would have said the same things Pia says about Dragos, “he’s controlling” or “he’s just really jealous,” and of course “it’s just because he loves me so much.” These “rules” are really familiar to me:
- Pia isn’t allowed to go anywhere on her own. When the elf dude invites Pia to visit him, Dragos literally puts himself in front of her.
- Pia isn’t allowed to have secrets. How many times does Dragos harp on knowing about her mom? She’s not allowed to have an inner life or anything that belongs to her – NOT EVEN HER OWN MEMORIES.
- Pia is only allowed to have friends that Dragos pre-approves. She’s allowed to hang out with the sentries and Tricks. These are all people who are more loyal to Dragos than they are to her.
- Until she isn’t. Even when the friends are pre-approved, if they like her *too* much, it’s not okay. The section cuts off just before Dragos flies off the handle because he catches her sparring with his bros (which he suggested she do!) This was the most triggering scene for me – remembering so many fights about who I was friends with, what I was doing with them, does this guy like you, did you sit beside him, did he touch you, on and on – and this was the “pre-approved” friends! Forget anyone I knew in the past.
I’ve been reading reviews on Goodreads and they’re full of women swooning over how Dragos is so “alpha” and “possessive” and “stalkerific” and I’m going to assume none of these women have been in an actual relationship like this, or else they’re still stuck in one, because it’s not fun, it’s not romantic, and it is abuse.
Okay. Let’s not end on a heavy note. The Good, The Bad, and The WTF worked pretty well last week, so let’s go:
The Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Good
- Pia “shutting down.” This was realistic – I like that she is portrayed as having limits and not being able to push through like some kind of super hero.
- I liked the idea of the Elven Wafer thingies, except for the fact that they never come up again. Though I kept thinking of “they’re wafery thin!”
- I appreciate that the first sex scene wasn’t the usual man-on-top penis-in-vagina sex for 2 minutes = multiple orgasms.
- Enjoyed drunk-Pia and drunk-Tricks. I totally made a flow chart of who slept with who when I worked at the mall (Everyone with everyone. It was gross.)
- This is one of the few passages I genuinely liked in terms of the actual writing: “An intact sister to the damaged Winged Victory of Samothrace, housed at the Louvre, the sculpture depicted a beautiful, powerful goddess with a stern face. She was draped in flowing robes, with her great wings swept high into the air behind her. She held a sword in one hand, while the other cupped her mouth as she called a battle cry to unseen troops. The statue was from ancient Greece, but the inscription in the modern pedestal was in Latin, and very simple. REGNARE. To reign.”
The Bad
- Of course the goblins leave Pia and Dragos alone and unguarded. Of course.
- Emo Dragos: “Maybe you will someday, just as soon as I understand myself.” Bitch please.
- The creep factor. The fact that Dragos had all of her belongings moved into his penthouse is super disturbing. Later than day, he removes her clothes while she’s sleeping! NOPE NOT OKAY!
- The obvious set up (for a sequel?) that Pia will become the head of PR for a multinational company. I’m sure her bartending experience will be really helpful there.
- The sex scenes are boring as hell. What does it say about me when a dragon sex book is too vanilla for my liking? Seriously though, it’s like every romance/erotica I read is either WAY too boring (50 Shades, this one) or WAY WAY WAY over the line (The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.) Is anyone writing sex scenes that are not totally boring but also not totally disgusting?
The WTF
- There’s a lot of hissing when they have sex. Do dragons hiss? Because I’m picturing a cat hissing and it’s pretty hilarious.
- Pia is super impressed by the vegan meal she gets even though it has no protein which is a major pet peeve of real actual vegans. Throw some beans or tofu in there, for god’s sake!
- Presented without comment: “She looked into his eyes as she curved a hand around the broad mushroom head and stroked. “
Tune in next week for the merciful end.
Reading in Bed 
I forgot to ask on twitter: what does a “mushroom head” mean? (I am actually very very afraid to ask 😀 )
[whispers] It’s his peepinator…
Yep it’s his dragon sick. Way to compare it to something that is kind of slimy and squishy and grows in shit. I’m so turned on right now!
HAHAHAHA!
Whoops dragon DICK. Freudian slip hahahah
I thought it was supposed to say “stick” which is even funnier. Hahaha!
I prefer peepinator!
😆 really, food porn meant something else… I don’t think I’ll eat mushroom soup again 😐
“what does a “mushroom head” mean?”
Hands DOWN, the funniest comment I’ve ever read on a blog. I’m dying laughing right now.
God this book is ridiculous.
:))) I was soooooo afraid to ask, and mostly I was soooooo afraid of the answer! now, I had so much fun reading you comments, people, that I downloaded a sample of the book on my kindle. I’ll be back with more comments – hopefully still funny!
At the very least, the book is good for a few laughs.
Nooo Laura save yourself from Dragos’ “molten lava gaze” before it’s too late!
ok, I’ve got news. after a 5k run yesterday evening I thought I should read dragon stories before going to bed. now, don’t know if it was the run or the book, thing is I fell asleep immediately with the kindle on my nose. will try again tonight 😐
It’s your subconscious trying to protect you…
ps: molten lava gaze makes me think of molten lava cake. not good, not good. I am supposed to lead a healthy life here, poor in calories 😆
mmm lava cake.. I think I deserve some for finishing the book 🙂
Oh. My. God.
The “presented without comment” bullet point made me GUFFAW.
I would imagine you’re right about the women swooning over Dragos. I’ve been in a couple of those relationships myself, and they’re definitely not swoon-worthy. No. Just no.
Thought you might like that LOL. Nice mental picture?!
Ugh so you know where I’m coming from. I felt nauseated reading some of it.
Yeah, I don’t really mind women thinking it’s hot to read a book about a controlling male romantic lead. However, what bothers me is when they start wishing for a real-life boyfriend like the book boyfriend. That to me speaks to more than just a fantasy; it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what it’s actually like to be in such a relationship.
This whole relationship is just WRONG! I’m glad you outlined the points. Dragos is just way too demanding, aggressive, and it’s NOT ok.
I laughed at your goblin comment. OF COURSE. Goblins must be smart, but not that smart.
You should try Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series … that one has good sex scenes! And Bones is definitely swoonworthy (and Kat kicks total ass, so she’s not the submissive Pia is turning out to be.).
You’re so right that Dragos is emotionally abusive. I need a new word (tired of UGH) for how gross I find him/them/this book.
Pretty impressed by Dragos’s taste in sculpture, however.
So I’ve tried to think of something to say here for the past few days, but I just can’t. I have nothing left to say. There’s just nothing to this book. At all. It’s bad, on top of bad, on top of bad. You’re a saint for even having “good” things to say.
This doesn’t bode well for your post next week…
I guess I’ve read enough Harlequins to know that there is, actually, worse out there.
I would love my post next week to just be a video of me burning this thing.
yes I think some sort of performance art is in order. Or perhaps an interpretive dance?
I’ve called the video. That means the dance is up to you.