Review: The Highness the Duke by Michelle M Pillow

The Highness the Duke (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 161 pages

Published January 12th 2012 by Raven Books (first published January 11th 2012)

ISBN 13: 9781452417639

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #5

Stars: 3

Flames: 3

Aeron Grey overhears a transmission signaling the possible invasion to the planet Qurilixen while at work for the Federation.  When she reports her suspicions, her superiors don’t want to get involved since Qurilixen is not part of the Federation.  Not one to take the possible destruction of a planets’ population in stride she sets out with the help of her sister to warn the Qurilixen people of the attack. Unfortunately the only way they can find to get there is using the Galaxy Brides corporation where they must sign a contract to become brides on that planet.  Aeron doesn’t see this as a problem since she doesn’t plan to stay there or be picked as a bride.

Lord Bronislaw, High Duke of Draig attends the Breeding Festival for the seventh time, he has lost all hope that he will find a bride.  He is pleasantly shocked to discover his bride in Aeron and sets out to make her his.

This is the 5^th book in the Dragon Lords series set in the same time frame as the previous four books.  Bron is the cousin of the four princes and his family is in charge of the breeding of animals, mining, and some intergalactic travel.  It has been a few weeks since I read about the four princes so it was nice to go back to the series.  While this book is a nice addition to the series, I felt there was something lacking in it.  It’s not as long as the previous books and it seems to end abruptly with many unanswered questions.  You do get a brief epilogue where you know that the rest of the story will be told in the other brothers books but it still leaves Bron and Aeron’s story a little up in the air. 

I was happy to see that this story took place (mostly) away from the palace and if you don’t read the previous four books, you won’t be lost.  All the locations, building and clothes were well described. I just wish there was a little more of just Bron and Aeron.  Their relationship was sometimes put on the back burner so that the set up for the series could be told.  With that said I still really enjoyed the story and I will be looking for the next one when it comes out.