Drantos (VLG Series Book 1)

Drantos is a hybrid Vamplycan, son of the clan leader. Dusti is the daughter of a Vamplycan mother and human father, her bloodline is weak. Dusti and her older sister abating were raised in Los Angeles kept unaware of their heritage until a trip to see their maternal grandfather brings them face to face with their destinies.

This a new series for Laurann Dohner. They are all sorts of interesting mixes of creatures. It's well written and steamy. I am a huge fan of Ms. Dohner, I have read everything she has written. This was not one of my favorites. I can see where it's going and I like the storyline, but it did get tedious in places. There are way to many back story and redundant conversations, so it definitely drags. I liked the main and side characters, but didn't really feel the emotional connection of the H and h. Anyway, decent start It was worth reading and I will read the next one. Enjoy!

I was a little disappointed. I love the New Species and Cyborg Seduction books but this series came across as if the writer were unsure of herself. I had a little trouble warming-up to the main characters. Hopefully the next book will improve because I have really enjoyed reading the books by Laurann Dohner

For someone that never read a book about likans and Gargoyles I have to say it was pretty awesome... Names are hard to figure out but Laurann made it easy keeping up with the story and describing little details that were important to the story.

The teasing and arguing of the characters was so much fun to read... Must read

I love the Laurann's "New Species" series, but this new series not so much. The story line was ridiculous and the characters unlikable. Had a hard time finishing the book; did not seem like the work of Ms Dohner that I am used to.

I have read all of the authors species. They have something that this book doesn't, which is heart. I never felt that Dusti and Drantos had any connection except the mind numbing lust. Yes Dohner can right write hot sex, but it's empty hot sex, as the characters despite all the chatting about VampLycan clans never gets these two characters to connect.
The book is bloated with an information dump of the VampLycan world instead of letting her readers experience the world she tells us about it ad nauseam.
If you are looking for a chance to waste your money than buy the book. As I normally read a book quickly, but this book just dragged on and on.

How refreshing that Dusti had the intelligence and courage to back up her attitude and mouth. So many heroines can talk a good game, but are impulsive and need to constantly be rescued. All of the characters were well written and engaging. Bravo!

This book was not like anything she has written before. The cadence was slower and felt different. The hero was still a good guy in a harsh world. The heroine was smart and mouthy and a really great person. The chemistry between the two felt real because it happened over the first chapter. I am going to love this series. I liked the characters. I liked the world they invited us into. I liked the flow of the story once I got into it. Like the reviewers who gave it a bad review because it was not NS I was disappointed at first. Because the feel of this book is so different. But once I got over myself and just enjoyed the book, I realized that it was the right way to start this series. Setting up this world which is so much more complex than any of her others took a buit of getting used to. But I am so excited about the next one. Yes this book had alot of setting up to get through. Now I can see what the world is and I am going to enjoy it. Thanks Laurann Dohner for the huge surprise. A world unlike anything else to date.

I have liked the author’s other series very much. I wanted to like the VampLycans but did not for several reasons.

If you compare the writing style of this book to the author’s other series [ especially New Species and Cyborg ] they just do not compare. It is like two different people wrote them. Many of the scenes seemed basic, as if the author was getting tired of writing. Even the erotic scenes seemed different.

There was so much background provided and it just didn’t fit together. The characters were trying to get to safety and you want to talk about all that? Especially when the main female character was wearing high heels through the woods? The background just didn’t fit the scenes. The book does say that there are laws that have to be obeyed, and the main female character caused problems because of those laws but had only been told to obey. I don’t think so. What is the motivation for Dusti to even try to get the others to like her when the others were not likeable? Good sex? It just didn’t read right. The writing didnt connect Dusti and Drantos together on an emotional level. I only saw a sexual connection and a good sister wouldn't have overlooked Bat just for sex. Dusti was so worried about Bat seeing their grandfather that she wouldn’t allow her to go on the trip alone but she allows them to be separated and not be allowed to talk with Bat? I don’t think so. That was an obvious preparation for a second book and I did not receive it well. It just made Dusti’s reasoning seem conflicted.

I could have overlooked a lot if the VampLycans were likeable but they were not to me. I found with the other series that even though New Species/Cyborg had scenes that might cause you to question their actions, [ I.E. Cyborg killing humans that got too close to the planet, New Species putting people in prison and allowing them to be raped and tortured ] that there were reasons why the main female characters would overlook those issues. New Species and Cyborgs had a background that caused people to have sympathy for them.

Short version:
Interspecies "war" is possibility, and the two sisters Batina and Dustina are smack down in the middle of it.
(I say "war", because it isn't a struggle of epic proportions, more like 200 families or so...)

Long version:
What's not told in the blurb is that these interspecies variants of Lycans/Werewolves*, Vampires and Gargoyles have the weirdest emotional lives and seem to be able to turn a 180 when they realize the person in question is your mate and HEA.
That, on top of their society seeming like it's a combination of feudal Europe (example: "My father was a craftsman, not as high in rank as an enforcer") and me-Lycan-you-Woman, and we have our Heroine Dustina having to basically accept all that in less than three days (!) and come out on top.
Who could so that, emotionally and intellectually? Dustina, you apparently have the ability to compartmentalize like a house full of storage units...but you get your HEA (?) with your sexy Lycan, so it should be okay? Right?

*What's up with starting the book talking about Lycans, but then nearly ending the book with just forgetting that and using Werewolves? Forgetfulness, thy name is Dohner?

I purchased this audiobook during a sale and had no idea what it was about.  I am glad I didn’t look too closely because I wouldn’t have bought it, and I am so happy I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

The details and character building that have gone into this world of Vamplycans and Garlycans are truly extraordinary and unique.  Not to mention the Scenes between Drantos and Dusti where downright combustible.  I was hooked from the beginning.  

I am looking forward to continuing this series and since Savannah Richards is staying on as the narrator makes it a plus.  I am rating Drantos 5 Boundless stars I loved it. 

I just finished reading and let me tell you, this was so not what I expected from Laurann's writing. And I'm not meaning that in a good way, sadly. What I expected was simply put more of everything. More action, more sassyness, more acceptance and for the love of God definitely less dormant and discriminatory bahaviour! I'm sad to say that this was more of a flop than a woop story. :(

The story started out great. Dusti was still a bit sassy and knew how to stand up for herself. I loved her sister, she was by far the best character in the whole book! Now, if only Dusti was like her the story would have been great. But, nope, sadly she turned more dormant and scared by the minute. I know, finding out that your saviour isn't just hot but also not even human could be a reason to panic but it definitely is not a reason (in a fictional book, of course) to feel for almost the rest of the book completely frightened by his species. No one wants to read about a heroine who doesn't know how to stand up for herself to the clans people till the very end of the book! I know it's a new world and culture but, honestly, she should not lose herself in the process! By the end she did get a bit braver and stood up to her deranged, evil grandfather but for me it was just a little too late.

And don't even get me started on the clans people, uggh. They feel superior to humans and of course don't want to accept such a weak mate for their next clan leader. What upset me the most is that SPOILER they don't accept her TILL THE VERY END! END SPOILER How stupid is that!

The only saving grace was the hero, Drantos, and the relationship between him and Dusti. He was super protective of her and really cared for her. There were times where he didn't understand that some things he's done in the past (mostly with SPOILER his past lovers END SPOILER) might hurt Dusti. But overall he was a really great mate to her. Together they were a very stong couple that would do anything for each other.

Was this book my cup of tea and would I recommend it? Nope
But, hey, just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you won't like it, right?

Safety-gang: Safe with triggers.

I love Laurann donner. I pre-ordered this book on her name alone. she always has those hot scenes/anticipation that you expect from her and this story fulfills that. however this book just didn't do it for me. I ended up forcing myself to continue on a lot of the time. It started off with a bang! but then it was a huge rush and a lot of pointless dialogue. At times the banter was terrible. the scenes stalled. I get its a new world and therefore you need to lay the foundations, but the way it was done at times I felt like yelling out OK I GOT IT ALREADY. I like the heroine however she was sooooooo human and while thats not always a bad thing I think in this story she needed an extra.....SOMETHING. the lead couple was likeable yet I felt the whole thing was lacking. the parts I was into were rushed and the the parts in the middle were drawn out like the author was bulls***ting her way. Maybe the next installment will be better but for now I'm just really disappointed.

I really wanted to like this book. I generally love LD's book, her new species books are great! I just couldn't like this one though. The heroine is just... I just want to smack her. The hero... too over the top 'alpha male'. I went back and forth about refunding the book because 20% of the way through I just couldn't take it anymore. I waited too long though. Maybe someday I will be able to finish it...

The book contains much of the explanation of the races: Vampires, Lycans, Gargoyles and the mix of them: VampLycans and GarLycans.
Although we are introduced to two couples who come together, this book focuses on Dusti and Drantos' romance. She knew nothing about her ancestors. She see herself just in the middle of a war of mythical people and in love with one of them who becoming her mate.
Now, Dusti with much more human blood in her veins than VampLycan, need to prove her worth to Drantos' clan to be accepted as his mate.
With sexiest scenes and other fun well, the book entertains and no claim to bring too serious drama.

4,5 stars

I enjoyed many of the author's earlier books, and I really wanted to like this one. Best aspect: the author wrote a novel in a new universe instead of continuing to coast downhill on the stength of past glory.

My biggest problem is that I had no sympathy for any of the paranormals. They are racist, murdering thugs who are OK with slavery, mind control, and theft. Each group is ruled by a whimsical dictator who live by the 1000 yr out if date philosophy, "might makes right." No group holds another group acountable for their actions--or tries to punish their evil acts. The most they seem to do is say "tut tut" while gosiping.

2nd biggest complaint is that the sisters are split appart and not allowed to talk for lame, stupid, and rediculous reasons. This was so dumb that it always took me out of the flow. Obviously the author wants a sequel, but this tactic never works; here we see yet another epic fail.

3rd, the author (for the first time) fails the basic writing rule, "show, don't tell." Yes, as other unhappy readers complain, the first half of the book is literally 50% boring history monologues that could be skipped without consequence. Alas, that is harder to do in an e-book, one of my few complaints of giving up paperbacks. Regardless, this is yawningly dull.

4th despite being allegedly half paranormal, the leading lady is in reality fully human with no paranormal ability whatsoever. This did not work for me.

By the end, I totally understood why the leading lady's deceased mom left. I can only wonder in astonishment that her daughter stays.

I really wanted to like this one. Heroine...too whiny. Hero...too simple. Definitely not my favorite offering from this author. I think the GarLycan leader is a better hero. Hopefully, his story can redeem the series.

I felt like I was reading a cross between 'Twilight' and 'Underworld'. This is not original material or storyline with the exception of Areoth, who happened to be the only interesting charecter in the book..and Bat, who I had a hard time feeling any affection for since her charecter made it clear she was fine getting rapists and murderers off in order to stroke her own inflated ego. I don't consider her or her sister strong charecters...just self absorbed air heads.
I want my $ back for this download.

Okay, so I enjoyed Drantos enough to finish it, but there were a few issues that kept me from loving it. I'll keep this short and sweet.
The good: I liked the story line and I enjoyed the characters. I also love LD's writing-her New Species series is an absolute favorite of mine.
The bad: There were way too many conversations (dialogue) that went on without pause. It felt like run-on sentences that went on paragraph after paragraph. Got confusing. At times I was like, "is she really still talking?" There was a lot of repetition. The ending also fell flat. I wanted more of a solid "end".
Nevertheless, it was well worth the read. I will read book 2.

I waited for this book, but was not overly impressed. It seems the author was enthused by shifters, and the beginning was boring and at times it was like many other plots I've read. It only blame interesting nearing the end, but even so was predictable. Not one of the best I have read from this author and it was actually a bit of a let down.

I refer to Laurann Dohners' NS books as my guilty pleasures! I've read each one. I also like her Cyborg series and her Zorn series as well.

For a while now, I kept hearing about LD's 'not so secret new series'; as it was LD I felt I should give it a try. How truly disappointing. The only guilt I felt was the loss my time and the money I spent on the book!

I really disliked the two sisters. Between the two of them ~ neither had any redeeming qualities. The Heroine complained ~ a lot! LD was trying way too hard to make the heroine 'strong' but she just came off as sniveling. The attempts of humor were embarrassing. The members of the village would make anyone want to run for the comforts of the human world as their version of Utopia is in fact a prison.

When the story attempted to discuss the backstory of the Vampires, the Lycans and the Goths it became painfully convoluted! Parts of the history was repeated several times, other tidbits were sprinkled here and there with no real reason other than to fulfill a word count.

I will not be reading the second book or third book or any other book of this series. I am sorry ~ as I said ~ I really do enjoy the NS series. But I cannot say the same for the VLG series.

Okay, so I enjoyed Drantos enough to finish it, but there were a few issues that kept me from loving it. I'll keep this short and sweet.
The good: I liked the story line and I enjoyed the characters. I also love LD's writing-her New Species series is an absolute favorite of mine.
The bad: There were way too many conversations (dialogue) that went on without pause. It felt like run-on sentences that went on paragraph after paragraph. Got confusing. At times I was like, "is she really still talking?" There was a lot of repetition. The ending also fell flat. I wanted more of a solid "end".
Nevertheless, it was well worth the read. I will read book 2.

First let me say.....I LOOOVE this author's stories! I like this story, but I feel this was not her best. I almost didn't finish the story but I'm glad I did. It got better toward the end. The reason I almost didn't finish it was because I got so tired of the Heroine saying "What does that mean" or "What are you saying" and on top of that the other sister is suppose to be the Tough as Nails sister, but the shy delicate sister seem to be the tough one. It was confusing. Overall the story is good, but the two sisters personality need work.