• A Destiny of Dragons

  • Tales from Verania, Book 2
  • By: TJ Klune
  • Narrated by: Michael Lesley
  • Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,956 ratings)

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A Destiny of Dragons  By  cover art

A Destiny of Dragons

By: TJ Klune
Narrated by: Michael Lesley
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Publisher's summary

Sequel to The Lightning-Struck Heart

Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice, Sam of Wilds, got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Justin they will be best friends forever. Life is good.

Until it’s not.

Because Vadoma, the leader of the gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side.

And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv. Ruv, who Vadoma says is Sam’s true cornerstone.

©2017 TJ Klune (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

What listeners say about A Destiny of Dragons

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Fantastic book with awesome narration

TJ Klune is a consistently good author who with this series deliver a witty and funny light fantasy that is unapologetically gay. The production and narration of the first two audiobooks is fantastic, and adds significantly to the story. As a gay man who has been a lifelong fan of comedic high fantasy, this series is pretty much a dream come true for me.

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20 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

zero is my new favorite person

I hope I can write something this good some day. I like the story and look forward to the next part.

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8 people found this helpful

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5 stars

While I was reading the book I kept picturing in my head how it was going to sound when it came out on audio. I didn’t even come close. Michael Lesley blew my expectations out of the water and does another fantastic job! He continues to prove just how perfectly cast he was for this series.

T.J. Klune wrote in a blog post: "These books will always first and foremost be absurd comedies. Always. However, there is an emotional heft and a sense of urgency that wasn't in Lightning."

Once again told entirely from Sam's POV "A Destiny of Dragons" picks up roughly a year after "The Lighting-Struck Heart" ends and Sam's gypsy grandmother has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars.

"A Destiny of Dragons" is only the start of the journey - there's much more to come...more battles to be fought, more lives to be saved (and lost) in "The Consumption of Magic", and "A Wish Upon the Stars".

The narration isn’t flawless. There are changes to some of the character voices – for example Kevin's voice is not so deep and the echo is a little less pronounced as well because of different software than what was used in TLSH and I thought Randall’s voice is a little more accented than it was in TLSH.

I don’t know how anyone could expect a 16+ audiobook to be without a single flaw, but any mistakes are hardly noticeable unless you’re keenly looking for them. And while it isn’t flawless – it is perfect.

The fact that Michael Lesley comes from a theatrical background means that his performance is absolutely amazing. It’s frankly incredible just how many distinguishable character voices he is able to do, and how well he is able to bring the emotion and humor of the story out. Get this man a Grammy and an Audie Award already!

“I have awoken, O human child. In this forest deep, in the dark of the wild. And I have seen what is in your heart. Take heed of my warning: you are not ready. ”

“A warning. All of you will not survive until the end. There will be loss, Sam. And it will burn like nothing has ever burned before. You must remember to keep to the light, even when the dark begins to curl around your feet.”

NOTE: This is not a standalone - do not attempt to read this without first reading/listening to "The Lightning-Struck Heart" first.

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Ok! Lets start this mother cracker review!!!!


Well hell!!! I know, I'm absolutely certain of it! that's TJ klune is one of the best authors in the 21st century!!!
I am living Audible and Kindle... I'm reading always every single day! and I think (of course it's my opinion) this specific author nailed it badly!!!
I think this book is a very freaking special book, and before you will start to read this review... if you hadn't read the first book get the hell out of here !!!and go read the first book and listen to it too!!!
okay for those who read the first book, it wouldn't be a surprise for what I will say right now. Yes the first book was funnier, easier, lighter and amazing. (freaking amazing I heard the first book 4 times I know how amazing it is) but the second book provides us with so much more! yes the hilarious parts are there... Wr have Gary Kevin and Tiggy for it!
But the story itself, escalated to such and amazing point... that you will not be able to stop yourself. you will suffer really a little bit ( a very tiny bit, well if you are emotional like I am you will suffer a little bit more )
but it will be worth it !!!
I'm absolutely sure the next book is amazing.
and I'm absolutely certain ,that I will wait for the audio!!!! because even if I already have the Kindle I will not read it! I will never be able to do all that was done in the audiobook.. in my head... but I will speak about that later... first I have to say I'm in Love with Zero ❤❤❤🐉🐉🐉 he is so damn cute ❤❤❤ so damn beautiful❤❤❤
I was seeing Zero like this ginormous little boy that wants love... it was so indulging ❤❤❤
about the narrator: Michael freaking Leslie!!! Holy mother crackers!!! what can I say about one-man that made my world explode? this narration was so freaking amazing!!! I literally don't have enough words to describe it... gods dammit( yes I'm speaking like Sam right now) I will say two things... in my opinion you should buy the Kindle book because it's an Incredible Book ❤❤❤❤ but you should read and listen to this to amazing books together. don't let anyone disturb you while you listening to this piece of art.
it's absolutely indescribable! (until you listen to it and then you will understand me )
What are you still doing here?! go and listen to the book or i will call Tiggy and he will smash you!!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant continuation, excellent narration

I thought that the narration for TLSH could not be beat ... but, like those who have underestimated Sam of Wilds, I was so mother-cracking wrong!!!! Michael Lesley is absolutely brilliant. I cannot describe how much I loved the book and narration, and the new characters- his portrayal of Zero was so funny and Myrin was charmingly chilling.
I am so looking forward to Consumption of Magic.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Skipped through lots

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Nope, felt it dragged and had lots of repeats and filler

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

huh? Not sure of most interesting how we kept being reminded that it was Sam that was the dominate one in the bed room. Really, after about the third time... we got it. No need for the 10 plus more.

Have you listened to any of Michael Lesley’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Love his narration. saved this story

Do you think A Destiny of Dragons needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yeah. left you with a cliff hanger

Any additional comments?

I was nervous about this second book. But I had listened to the first and left with a cliff hanger. So I was stuck for the second and had to listen. Found a lot of repeats and fillers I just didn't care for. But in between those we found the normal LOL parts and shenanigans that these characters have gotten up to. The destiny part of the story is moving along slowly, but seems like a nice tale.
I know there is one more and even though we are left w/another cliff and told that a major character will be killed off. And all fingers points to RF.. I still properly will not finish this series.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Destiny of Dragons and Doldrums

Still fun, but not as stellar as book 1. Perhaps it’s a little like the Austin Powers movies, where the first was unexpected and irreverent, but where each successive movie overplayed the perv and the corn until the beaten horse was just gross. The running gags (“If it’s capitalized, it’s true”) and “that’s what he said” jokes are less and less funny, especially as the story gets bogged down with broody monologues and the constant drone about the impending death and Sam’s destiny…

The destiny that DOESN’T happen in this 17 hr book. Yeah. Super annoyed at the cliffhanger ending. If you’re going to give me an Empire Strikes Back middle, there needs to be more action and higher stakes. But, there’s only 1 big action scene and 1 little climactic confrontation that is way more monologue than battle. Also, no one dies…except from boredom.

The ratio of shallow to deep, funny to “I’m not crying, you’re crying,” and absurd to meaningful is way off. The endless forecasting of future loss and telling us how much Sam loves Ryan caused me to check out of the story rather than get invested. And, all the over sharing about their butt-play was rather TMI cringe than sexy good times. Book 3 does a better Empire Strikes Back middle, but still runs overlong with the drama, TMI, and monologues. And book 3 is yet another cliffhanger! Grr. Books 2 & 3 should have been one book with half the content. You can almost read books 1 & 4 and skip the middle two… or wait for the sale and be prepared to FF through the blah blah boring stuff (and the TMI-butt-stuff).
Book 4 is still over-long and stuffed with talking (so much talking), but a step back up to four star great.
Book 1, however, broke the five star mold.

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Now I want more please !

This is worth so much more than 5 stars ...
I don’t know if I have the words to praise this audiobook as much as it should be...
Absolutely wonderful perfection 100% perfection... TJ’s perfect words with the array of voices from Michael Lesley had me enthralled and more than often in fits of giggles .. ThankYou both ❤️

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What makes something great?

I'm not really sure what makes a book or a series great or what makes a different series or book just okay. What I do know is that when you find it, you just know...you FEEL it.

I had no idea going into this series that I would be swept away with it. I mean, I've read TJ Klune before and honestly, he does seem to get a lot of 5 star ratings from me. I read an awful lot and I REALLY try not to give too many 5 stars because I always want a way to distinguish (just for me) a good book from a great book. And while I do not think that book 2 is as good as book 1 in this series, it is still a great book.

I'm not sure how he does it, but he manages to create such wonderful characters, so rich, so unique. I mean, really, we are talking about a wizard with a destiny, a hornless gay unicorn, a half giant, a lonely dragon and a dashing knight. Seriously? Who could ever put these folks together and create a family? A tight knit group of crazy, snarky, never stop talking characters that LOVE each other to the ends of the Earth and would die to protect each other? Seriously? But he did...and it works.

I think I fell in love with Sam almost from the beginning. He has a heart like no other and Klune lets the reader (and by reader, I mean me) come along on the journey with Sam and FEEL everything with him every step of the way. He has created a world that is so well sculpted that it just springs to life on the page and it is so easy to picture everything that is happening as it is happening. Sam is a young wizard apprentice, just beginning to learn the extent of his powers, yet he discovers that people have not been exactly truthful with him and there is more at stake than he realized. More than he what might be willing to gamble with.

As with book 1, I still think that this is one of the very rare books that is actually better to listen to than to read. The talent of the narrator, Michael Lesly, is phenomenal and the way that he is able to bring this story to life is incredible. The fast, snarky dialogue, the complete separation of character voices....by this I mean that each character is so unbelievably different. You can tell each character easily and that is so important because the dialogue is quick and non stop and the level of snarky banter never stops.

As Sam and crew begin their epic journey, we can feel the tension level rising. I am not afraid to say that I am...well...afraid. I am in the middle of a conundrum because we have been warned that something awful is going to happen and as much as I am just chomping at the bit to dive into book 3, I am terrified to continue on and find out what that awful thing is. Unfortunately for me, I do not have enough willpower to not start book 3 immediately. There are series' that I can stop in the middle of - to come back to later or to just stop. I CAN'T not continue on and I will not read any other book before finishing this series. This is something that I already know. It is EXTREMELY rare for this to happen - hence my earlier comment of what makes a series great. All I can say is that I am hooked - on this story, on this group of zany misfits, and on this quest that I am not at all sure is going to be successful without some debilitating losses. So, I'm going to stop this now because I have another book to start.

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Love. This. Narrator.

A good book, but Michael Lesley makes it great! His versatility and clear enjoyment of what he was reading was such a delight to listen to.

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