Book and Audio Review: Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley

Named of the Dragon
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Publication: Audible Studios (February 26, 2016); Sourcebooks Landmark (October 6, 2015)
Length: 9 hours and 48 minutes; 308 p.

Description: From bestselling author Susanna Kearsley comes a story in which romance and the paranormal combine in a suspenseful Welsh setting to inspire one woman to confront the past and face her own ghosts.

The charm of spending the Christmas holidays in South Wales, with its rich history, crumbling castles and ancient myths, seems the perfect distraction from the nightmares that have plagued literary agent Lyn Ravenshaw since the loss of her baby five years ago.

Instead, she meets an emotionally fragile young widow who's convinced that Lyn's recurring dreams have drawn her to Castle Farm for an important purpose—and she's running out of time.

With the help of a reclusive, brooding playwright, Lyn begins to untangle the mystery and is pulled into a world of Celtic legends, dangerous prophecies, and a child destined for greatness.

Generations of Welsh history haunt Named of the Dragon, but the light that shines through the shadows is sure to draw fans of Diana Gabaldon, Kate Morton and Kate Mosse.

My Thoughts: Lyn Ravenshaw travels to Wales in the company of one of her clients for Christmas. Bridget is an author and quite a character. She is going to stay with another author named James Swift, who is likely looking for a new agent, but she's in pursuit of another man. Gareth Gwyn Morgan is a reclusive playwright that Lyn's company really, really wants to sign.

Lyn finds herself in the middle of Bridget's romantic plot but is more concerned with the plight of a young widow named Elen and her baby named Stevie. Lyn has a problem with babies. She's still grieving the death of her infant Justin. She is alarmed and disturbed to learn that Elen sees her as a protector for her son on the basis of dreams of Merlin and a woman named Margaret.

Lyn also finds that the recurring nightmares which have plagued her since the death of her baby are also now featuring Margaret and Merlin. She doesn't want to believe in anything mystical and investigates to see who might be playing mean pranks on Elen who is already emotionally fragile.

Lyn is aided in her investigation by Gareth who has named himself Elen's protector because of his friendship with her deceased husband. Lyn and Gareth's relationship is a slow growing one. They get off to quite a bad start since he's reclusive and suspicious of her motives since her company has been very intent on signing him to their literary agency. She just thinks that he's rude even while greatly admiring his work as a playwright.

The story is infused with Welsh mythology and is also very emotionally intense. Katherine Kellgren does a wonderful job portraying and ramping up the drama in the story.

Favorite Quote:

"We don't let any of them die, in Wales--Merlin and Arthur and Owain--we keep them close by and asleep in the hills, to be wakened if ever we need them."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.