THE BECOMING gets a fast start--Bree is grabbed by her best friend Marco just as she and Keegan are entering the portal to Talamh, the distant world of her late father. But, as Marco explains, he would not let the upset Breen step into “some hole of light” in the living room without him.

On Earth, Breen’s mother refuses to deal with the facts of her life with Eian and makes life difficult for Breen. Then, on vacation in Ireland, Breen stumbles upon the portal to Talamh and finds her grandmother Marg, only to discover she spent her early childhood on Talamh. As awareness of her dual past emerges, Breen learns she may be critical to keeping Talamh free from her grandfather, the evil god Odran. In the book’s introduction, Breen, “the bridge between worlds, must return and awaken, must become, and must choose to give all, risk all to destroy the god.” In the past, because Eian did not bend to his father’s will, Odran drank his powers to increase his own. Then Odran, with the aid of black magick, attacked Talamh and currently seeks Breen.

Now back on Talamh, Breen trains for the upcoming battle with Odran and his forces of evil. Marco quickly adapts to life in this world without technology – no computers, no phones, no internet – and falls in love.  Breen and Keegan continue to explore their feelings as he pushes hard on her warrior skills training.  At the same time, Breen works with Marg building and developing her gifts of magicks.

When Breen travels to the Capital, she meets Shana, a woman determined to marry Keegan. Shana tries to intimidate Breen by creating intrigue and issuing falsehoods about her relationship with Keegan. As Breen attends events in the Capital, the inevitability of war with Odran dampens inhabitants’ spirits and the general mood overall.

Nora Roberts spins an enthralling yarn with absorbing subplots and engaging characters. Once again, Ms. Roberts’ storytelling skills sweep readers away to a world filled with magick, dragons, romance, and a growing sense of foreboding as Talamh readies for war. THE BECOMING tracks Breen’s preparations for her confrontation with Odran. Looking forward to the final volume in the Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy.