Book 2 helps us to find closure to a "side" love story between Malcolm, a healing and bookish Black Dragon and Saba, a half Japanese witch who is just coming into her powers. We also see the continuing love of Caleb and Lisa come to fruition and we meet some really great supes, who help Saba and Caleb protect the book of names from the dragon archives (if you know a Dragon's name you can control it). ( )

**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

Trapped in the human realm, all Malcolm, otherwise known as the Black Dragon, wanted was to go home to Dragonspace. Once he has returned home, all he can think about is going back to the mortal world and the woman who has somehow managed to worm her way into the heart of the Black Dragon, a being known for logic, not sentimentality.

When Saba is attacked by an evil White Dragon, it is the perfect opening to return to his beloved witch. Malcolm will stop at nothing to protect what is his, and even though she is no longer under the mark that enslaved her will to his, Saba most definitely belongs to Malcolm.

But the White Dragon may have found a way to destroy Malcolm, and it will take every ounce of power and strength Saba can muster to save the dragon who has captured her love so effortlessly.

In the first book of Allyson James’ Dragon Series, Malcolm started out as a villain – or so he seemed. By the end of Dragon Heat, readers understood that Malcolm was not evil, he simply did not think the way other people do – or even other dragons for that matter. In fact, by the end of that book, you wanted to see more of this misunderstood dragon and the witch he left behind, Saba.

Which brings me to the present, standing and applauding Ms. James for delivering a compelling story that more than lives up to the expectations fans had for Malcolm’s tale.

While we left the previous story with the understanding that Malcolm was much more than he initially seemed, Ms. James explores his character in much greater detail in the sequel, The Black Dragon. In this story, the reader knows unequivocally that Malcolm has never been a villain. He has only ever wanted to protect those under his care, not enslave them. He feels things very deeply, even if the peculiarities of the Black Dragon’s personality cause him to express things in ways most people don’t understand.

As with the first book in this series, the situation and characters in The Black Dragon lend themselves easily to humor throughout the story. Watching as the ever so logical Malcolm tries to woo the disbelieving Saba is both comical and heartwarming! He may not often know the most romantic way to say something, but he always gives Saba the truth, and he definitely shows how much he cares for her time and again.

After Malcolm enslaved Saba to his will in the previous story, it is completely understandable that Saba is doubtful concerning Malcolm’s intentions and true feelings for her. That’s what makes it even more fun to watch as she submits to his seductions, even as she thinks he is bound to leave her once again. Of course, it is easy for us practically omniscient readers to say it is fun, while poor Saba struggles to resist a dalliance that she is sure will break her heart in the end. Ah, but after reading those scorching hot love scenes with Malcolm, I daresay she has a bit of fun regardless!

The Black Dragon also allows us to revisit with Caleb and Lisa, the couple from Dragon Heat, as they figure prominently in the story for their friends, Malcolm and Saba. It was wonderful to see these characters again and glimpse their lives after the happy ever after started!

I stated in my review for Dragon Heat that this series is now on my pre-order list, and Allyson James only reinforced that with this story. The Black Dragon is truly a magical story that will leave the reader wanting to believe in dragons, witches and all manner of other mystical creatures.

( )

Malcom, the uber-logical black dragon, had all the reason in the world to dislike witches. But when it came to Saba, the witch he had once enslaved, logic and reason seemed to escape him.

When Malcom had left Saba months earlier she had sworn never to fall prey any dragon ever again. However, when Saba is attacked by a viscious white dragon she has no choice but to call Malcom to her.

Driven together again by a threat to all of dragon kind Malcom and Saba have to work to discover how to stop the white dragon. Although they are helpless against their attraction to each other, will it be enough for them to have a future if they succeed in their task?

Even in the first book of this series, Dragon Heat, I had been drawn to the relationship between Malcom and Saba. I really enjoyed both characters very much. In this book there are also some very interesting side characters introduced which added a nice sub-plot to the story. Although I thought the language was a little awkward in places, it is not unusual for me to feel this way about romances in general, and I easily got past that so I could enjoy the book as a whole. I found this to be a very entertaining read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others who enjoy paranormal romances. ( )