The Magical World of Terry Bolryder: A Reading Guide Page 6
The major difference between cats and other shifters is that they’re undetectable in human form to all other shifters (including dragons). While all shifters have unique scents that others can pick up, either from long distances or in person, cat shifters give off a normal human scent, which allows them to blend into human society much better than wolves, bears, and others.
As far as physical abilities, cat shifters certainly aren’t to be trifled with. This is because they’re by far the stealthiest, most agile of all shifters while also being faster than a wolf and often more dangerous than even formidable bears when the chips are down.
Along with that, cat shifters are unique in that they “mark” their mates when they make the mate bond official. They do this by using their claws to magically (and painlessly) put a tattoo-like marking on the body of their significant other, essentially putting a possessive stamp on their mate for everyone else to see.
The first cat shifters were sighted in the Bear Haven books. Bonnie, the heroine from Rancher Bear, is a (SPOILER ALERT) lynx shifter. Lynxes are solitary, socially isolated cats that tend to only stick to themselves in small enclaves, which is why they aren’t seen out very often.
The other cat shifter that appeared in the same series was a cougar (or mountain lion, depending on where you live). Cougars have more the personality of their real-life equivalents in nature—big, easygoing, and absolutely deadly when angry), and they’re usually seen in secluded places like the Rocky Mountains, living by themselves or in small families. The two cougars I have written—Wyatt (Mountain Lion) and Hunter (Purrfect For Me) are fun, relaxed people who won’t hesitate to cut any other shifter down to size if necessary.
The third kind of big cats we saw were the tigers from the Tiger Protectors series, three brothers of unique origins with special skills. To date, these three are some of the most powerful shifters we’ve seen, with incredible size, strength, and prowess that serves them well in their professions. I won’t spoil their origin story, but needless to say, tigers aren’t naturally found in the wild and their strength is derived from a very special place.
Lastly, we have lions. Originally compared to deities within the shifter world, they are as elusive as they are powerful. One thing that set them apart is that they live on a small, invisible island, Pride Island, where lions influence both the human and shifter worlds in secret. This is why lions are rarely seen on the mainland (except for Max, of course). However, in the past few generations, unrest has increased on the island, with tensions between lions who want to help humans and lions who want to eradicate or rule humans going out of control, resulting in a revolution some years back. The three lions from my Lions of Pride Island series feature the three royal brothers in charge of managing this chaos and how they come to meet their mates along the way.
All in all, even though there haven’t been a lot of cats in my books, some of the characters have been the most memorable and likable of all of them.
Tales of Treasure, Love, and Dragons
Dragons. The most feared beasts in the shifter world (and the rest of the world too, if everyone knew they existed). In spite of their incredible power, dragons vary greatly and are known to have some of the most larger-than-life personalities of any other kind of shifter.
There are two main types of dragons: those who mate in a triad (double dragons) and all the others who are monogamous (one dragon per mate).
We’ll discuss the double dragons first:
Dragons first appeared in my Dragons of New York series in the first book, Double Dragons, where we met Ran and Draven. Along with their other friends, they are known as “double dragons,” specifically because they work in partnerships in order to protect each other at all times. These same dragons are also known as “enforcers,” because their main responsibility as dragons is to police the shifter world. Under the leadership of the oracle, a wise, mysterious figure, the double dragons take down evil shifters and humans alike, working together to achieve their goal.
Something unique to dragons from other shifters is that when they shift, their clothes are unaffected, so they can go from dragon to human form effortlessly (and not lose their expensive outfits in the process). This is because dragons are magical. In reality, their dragon form is their true form, and their ability to look like humans most of the time is more a necessary power that allows them to exist in the modern world without being seen.
Another power most dragons share is the ability to become invisible to the naked eye when in dragon form. This is important for fairly obvious reasons. (Otherwise, all the people who see giant dragons flying around might have something to say about that!) Along with that, many dragons can partially shift, calling upon just their wings or their dragon fire when needed, without having to change shape.
But double dragons aren’t just about kicking butt and saving the day. They also LOVE treasure, and many dragons are incredibly wealthy, in part due to the fact that they can live forever. Also, dragons are obsessed with finding a mate, and in the case of double dragons, that mate forms a triad with them, with both men loving and caring for and protecting their mate equally in the relationship. Another thing is that they can read thoughts. This is predominantly so they can communicate with each other while flying, but it can also lead to dragons hearing a human’s thoughts if they are particularly “loud.”
A unique aspect of female mates for dragons—and the thing double dragons obsess over most—is finding a dragon heart. A dragon heart is a woman who has performed a particularly selfless, brave act to save another person, proving that they are willing to put others before themselves. If a woman is a dragon heart, then when she mates her double dragons, she has the chance of receiving one of the six unique gifts the dragons possess that are specific to each dragon (purple, gold, black, blue, silver, and red). Also, she’ll share their everlasting lifespan. Nobody knows which power their mate will receive beforehand, leading to some unique situations and last-minute rescues by the brave women who are special enough to mate them (Double Dragons, Desired by Dragons, Destined Dragons).
So double dragons are basically awesome, right? Yes, they are! However, their blood is incredibly sought after by other shifters for a variety of nefarious purposes. One of those purposes is to grant normal shifters the ability to become wyverns. Wyverns are like miniature dragons, only they’re horrible-looking, full of evil, and have venomous fangs that can even kill dragons in small doses (Desired by Dragons). So they’re pretty much the worst thing ever, which is why they show up a lot, because anyone evil enough to want to rule the world is going to have to get through dragons first!
But double dragons aren’t the only dragons.
The next dragon to show up is an awakened dragon (from the past) by the name of Isaac Morningstar III (Zach). He and his friends are gemstone dragons, a more ancient version of double dragons. These dragons are ultra-strong with powers that correspond to their gemstone. They’re also monogamous, and obsessed with finding their one person and keeping them safe at all costs.
And even though they may not be looking for dragon hearts like double dragons do, they give their mate a unique ring that has their gemstone in it, sharing their long life with their special woman and bestowing unique powers upon them (Onyx Dragon, Awakened Dragons box set).
With so much going on in the world and powerful forces moving to shift the balance between good and evil, other types of awakened dragons popped up along the way too. There are the Viking-like metal dragons from the north and their haughtier, wealth-obsessed kin, the precious metal dragons. Then after that, sea dragons awoke from the depths of the ocean, greeted by a new, unfamiliar world nothing like the one they last remembered. Each of these types of awakened dragons has their own special backstory, unique powers, and obsession with finding mates of their own.
From there, a whole new breed of dragon appeared when the dragon guard of Drakkaris showed up (Aquamarine). Originally from a distant planet called Drakkaris, they came to earth
in the hope of stopping the poisonous metals in their veins, along with banding together to save human women captured by evil shifters (and basically all around saving the day).
But the dragons don’t stop there. Hidden in the dark corners of the world, away from prying eyes, there are other special dragons. Some are the stuff of nightmares (Nightmare Dragons), while others are outcasts, shunned by their peers, then brought into the light under mysterious circumstances (Bad Dragons, Forgotten Dragons). And with them, a cast of new mates, friends, villains, and shenanigans along the way.
What Lies in Store?
Those of you who have been reading my recent work are probably aware that there are some new faces on the block: the fae.
From what we know so far, the fae live in a world separate from our own, full of magic, complex social hierarchies, and fae “princes” that do battle for good or evil. Until recently, the only way into the home of the fae has been through the Blur, a misty, dark place that acts as a buffer between our two worlds. That is until recently, when reports have surfaced of shifters and humans finding ways to cross the Blur.
We met our very first fae in Bad Dragons, when Anna and her six dragons banded together to defeat a powerful chaos prince, Nerrenth. But even with their combined strength, they barely made it, showing us that fae are not to be trifled with when they’re the bad guys.
Thankfully, the next ones we meet are on the side of good (Dragon with Benefits, Dragon in Love), along with a wealth of new information about their social politics and powers. However, so far, the fae have been pretty tight-lipped about why they’re really here on Earth, leaving us to wonder what their intentions are.
Do they just want mates? Are they going to save humanity from the incursion of evil fae princes?
You’ll just have to keep reading!
Glossary
This is a glossary for words or terms you might stumble upon reading my books.
Though there are some spoilers here, my goal is to give a resource for my readers so they never feel behind or like they have to play “catch up” reading my books.
And if you stumble across any terms that aren’t here that either you or others might want defined, please email me at terry.bolryder@aol.com and I’ll make sure to add them the next time I update this reading guide.
A
Alpha-Though generally referring to being the top of something (or “one” in latin), alpha refers specifically to the animal at the top of a pack hierarchy, particularly wolves. A pack is generally run by an alpha female and male.
Alpha Challenge- A challenge issued by one or more unmated alpha males to compete for an unmated alpha female’s permission to mate them. These challenges vary in scale and severity from gentlemanly disputes to physical violence (See Alpha Games, Alpha Contender).
Alpha Power- Alpha’s (both men and women) have a chance of having a special power that aids them in running and protecting their pack. The more powerful the alpha, the more powerful the power, which is why many powers are kept secret from others until they’re finally used, so as to prevent others from exploiting or countering the power beforehand (See Alpha Rogue, Alpha Defender).
Awakened Dragon- Monogamous dragons that inhabited the earth during medieval times. Some integrated themselves with humans (See Sapphire Dragon, Ruby Dragon), while others secluded themselves from humans or inhabited spaces humans could not (See Awakened Sea Dragons, Onyx Dragon). These dragons are the progenitors of the double dragons, with their own unique powers, gifts, and histories. But all awakened dragons are monogamous, and when they mate with a partner share their lifespan with them.
B
“Bad” Dragon- A reference to the six banished double dragons who, upon failing to form proper bonds with each other due to infighting and disputes, were banished from their ordained roles as protectors of humanity. Furthermore, as they further transgressed shifter laws (by attempting to harm humans or shifters) they were banished from earth to a dark, intermediary place between our world and others, called “The Blur” as punishment for their pride and crimes (See Bad Dragons 1, 2, 3).
Bear Canyon Brawl- An event that takes place in the mountains above Bear Canyon where shifters from across the world come to fight each other in one-on-one combat for the chance of a large prize. Thought to be barbaric and violent, the event was founded by the Brolin brother’s father, but eventually was shut down as the brothers finally brought a halt to the unnecessary violence and abuse their father once sought to perpetrate.
Bear Shifter- A type of bear shifter, characterized by their thick brown fur and larger size. Even bigger than natural grizzlies, grizzly shifters are often considered the top of the natural shifter food chain. Even without alpha powers, they can be strong enough to take on whole packs of wolves by themselves when fighting to protect their mate (See Bear-ly a Hero). Some bears are acclimated to human society, accumulating great wealth or status (Bearllionaire, Bearlebrity), while others live secluded lives away from humans (Big Bad Bear, Bear to the Bone).
Beta- The second in command of a pack, or the alpha’s right-hand helper. (See Alpha Defender)
Black Bear- A type of bear shifter, characterized by their black fur. Smaller than grizzlies, black bears are generally less formidable in shifter society, but are still dangerous to anyone as they are still much larger than naturally-occurring black bears.
Black Dragon- One of the six double dragon types. Though often the smallest of dragons in physical stature, they are by far the most feared due to their deadly, regeneration-stopping green fire. This fire is the only one capable of killing other dragons, wolves with super healing, or even stronger foes. But it comes at great cost, and the black dragon literally poisons itself with the toxicity of its own fire, requiring the aid of a blue dragon to keep them alive (Double Dragons, Bad Dragons 1-3).
Blue Dragon- One of the six types of double dragon. The blue dragon is unique in that it has blue fire that heals. They are able to heal others while in human form, but their healing is most potent when used in dragon form. Because of their power, blue dragons are often the most empathetic to humans, desiring to heal and help them whenever they can, even to the extent of great personal peril (Desired by Dragons)
Blur, The- The Blur is a dark, unforgiving place inhabited by the worst of shifters, and as such is a lawless place run by magic and dog-eat-dog mentality. Aside from dragons, who are more powerful than the bear and wolves that otherwise live there, chaos fae are sometimes spotted in the Blur as well, though their intentions are as dark as they are unknown.
C
Chaos- In reference to fae, one of two alignments that fae are known to have (the other being “order”). Chaos fae are generally characterized by lawlessness, sociopathy, and general evil, as chaos fae have been known to experiment on others and commit heinous acts in the search of power and personal gain (See Bad Dragons 1-3, Dragon to the Rescue)
Cougar- (see Mountain Lion)
D
Dark Oracle- Sister to the oracle. Both women are of unknown origin and age. However, the dark oracle has used her power over the ages in the hopes of ruling the world, regardless of the cost. Has been known to do genetic experiments, created an army of wyverns (Awakened Dragons), and nearly escaped capture before finally meeting a necessary end at the hands of her own creations (Nightmare Dragons).
Dire Shifter- A rare type of shifter mutation. Little is known about dires, as they are as uncommon as they are uncontrollable. However, they are characterized by humongous size and extreme violence when shifted, so those who are dire often resist shifting at all cost for fear of hurting the people around them (See books “Redeeming the Bear” or “Club Crimson #4: Benny”). Other describe feeling an almost-magical “aura” of fear and horror int he presence of a dire, as their fur is dark, often bloodstained, and their eyes are pitch black. Though thought to be uncontrollable, a few dires have shown restraint and even been able to control their dire form for the purpose of protecting siblings or mates.
Dire Bear- A bear shifter who has transformed into a larger, more dangerous version of themselves. If spotted, run on sight, as these bears are believed to be unable to control their urges for violence.
Dire Wolf- A wolf shifter that, through unknown causes, become larger and more dangerous than other wolves.
Double Dragon/Dragon Enforcer-Known as enforcer dragons, double dragons evolved from ancient dragons with the singular purpose of fighting evil in the world-both from shifters and humans. They live forever (unless killed), and their blood is highly sought asset to be used for a variety of (mostly nefarious) purposes.
What makes double dragons unique is that they pair with another dragon for protection and for mating purposes, creating a complete triad of three people when a woman mates with them for life. There are six kinds of dragon enforcer, all listed here under a different subheading.
Also of note is that double dragons can read the minds of each other and humans, though the generally resist this as it is perceived as rude to do so.
Dragon- A type of shifter, characterized primarily by the ability to shapeshift into house-sized (or larger) mythical creatures, a never-ending lifespan, obsession with treasure, and the ability to grant long life and even their unique powers to their mate. There are many types of dragons, most of which are listed here in separate categories.
Dragon Blood- The blood of dragons is sought after, not only for the creation of wyverns, but for other nefarious purposes.