Nora Roberts’ The Becoming is one of the best books I read this year. However, I can’t recommend the second book in her Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy unless you’ve read the first one, The Awakening. Breen Siobhan Kelly’s relationships and life in Ireland and Talamh are too complex for a reader to follow unless someone has already immersed themselves in her story.

Breen doesn’t remember her childhood in Talamh, a magical world separated from Ireland by a portal. Her mother took her to Philadelphia after a traumatic experience, and tried to deny Breen’s magical heritage. But, Breen’s grandmother was watching from afar, and finally realized the time was right, and the need was great, and Breen traveled to Ireland where she discovered family and friends in Talamh that she didn’t remember she had.

She also learned she had untapped magicks, and she was the one best suited to oppose a god who wanted to destroy worlds, an outcast god who was her grandfather Odran. The Becoming picks up following The Awakening, when Breen returns to Talamh, inadvertently bringing her best friend, Marco, with her. Marco grabbed on to her as she was jumping between worlds because he wasn’t going to let his best friend leave him again.

The Becoming is Marco’s story as well as Breen’s. The gay black man from Philadelphia finds people who accept and love him in Talmah. His cooking skills and his musical abilities are appreciated in that world. Once he’s over the shock of discovering the magick place, Marco is more at home there than Breen was when she first arrived.

But, Breen is preparing for war. She continues her lessons with a man she is growing to love, Keegan, the taoiseach, the leader of Talamh. Her visions of Odran prepare the world for upcoming battles, although they know they’ll have to fight a final battle and destroy the god.

It’s hard for me to provide an adequate review of The Becoming. I love the setting, Ireland and an alternate world reminiscent of Ireland. I love the characters, the music, the laughter in this volume of the series.

The Becoming is the interlude, the peace before the final storm that occurs in fantasies. Despite hatred directed at Breen, and a battle, this is a relatively peaceful book. It provides Breen the opportunity to grow in strength, while she and Marco discover more about the country and people they’re growing to love. This book provides the reasons; the people, the love, the beautiful lands; the reasons that Breen and Keegan will stretch their abilities and skills to fight the final battle.

Nora Roberts’ website is https://noraroberts.com/

The Becoming by Nora Roberts. St. Martin’s Press, 2022. ISBN 9781250280183 (hardcover), 435p.


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