The Choice by Nora Roberts: Book Review

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The Choice by Nora Roberts is the third and final book in The Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy – a series I honestly never expected to enjoy as much as I did.

When I started The Awakening, and then continued with The Becoming, I was convinced this series was going to be far too “fantasy-ish” for me. Three books later, I’m happy to admit I completely misjudged them.

If you’ve already traveled through Talamh with Breen, Marco, Keegan, and the rest of the characters, The Choice brings their story to its conclusion – and I was both eager to see how it ended and sorry to say goodbye. If you’re looking for more Nora books, you can see her entire list on my Nora Roberts books in order guide.

My Take: The Choice gave me exactly what I wanted from the final Dragon Heart Legacy book: more time with characters I’d grown attached to, a return to the Ireland and Talamh settings I loved, and a satisfying conclusion to Breen’s journey. The biggest surprise is still how much I enjoyed this entire fantasy trilogy after being so sure it wasn’t for me. My Verdict? Read. But definitely start with The Awakening rather than jumping into Breen’s story here.

What The Choice Is About

Breen Siobhan Kelly has returned to Talamh after the devastating events of The Becoming. Odran has been defeated for now, but the threat he poses to Breen and the people she loves is far from over.

As Breen continues developing her powers and building a life that spans both Ireland and the magical world of Talamh, she also finds moments of happiness with Keegan, Marco, and the friends who have become her family.

But the final confrontation with Odran is coming, and Breen must prepare to use everything she’s learned – her magic, her strength, and her courage – to protect both worlds.

The Choice – What I Liked

The Characters

I was very happy to spend more time with so many of my favorite characters from the first two books.

I liked Breen, Marco, Keegan, Nan, and Sally almost immediately when I began this series, so having them all back for the final book was important to me. By this point, I wasn’t simply interested in what happened in the battle against Odran. I was invested in what happened to these people and their relationships.

That’s probably the biggest indication of how thoroughly this series won me over.

Ireland and Talamh

The setting remained one of my favorite parts of the entire trilogy.

Ireland was actually one of the things that attracted me to the series in the first place. Even though much of the story takes place in the fictional world of Talamh, that connection to Ireland helped make the fantasy elements work for me.

And I can still picture Breen’s Irish cottage. Frankly, I’d be perfectly happy moving into a similar one for a few days, a few months – or forever.

A Satisfying End to the Trilogy

I also appreciated getting a real conclusion to the story that began in The Awakening. After spending three books watching Breen discover who she is and what she’s capable of, I wanted the final book to feel like a culmination of that journey.

It did.

And considering I started this trilogy thinking I’d probably abandon it because there would be too much fantasy, that’s quite a turnaround.

The Choice – What I Didn’t Like

There wasn’t anything I truly disliked about The Choice, although the battle scenes weren’t my favorite parts of the book.

I knew a major confrontation was coming – this is the final book, after all – so there was no avoiding it. The battles were necessary to the story, but I was much more interested in the characters and their relationships.

My bigger complaint is really that I wanted more.

More Breen and Keegan. More Marco and Brian. More Sally. More time with virtually everyone.

That’s not much of a criticism, admittedly. It’s really an indication that I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind.

Unfortunately, Nora Roberts said trilogy, and trilogy apparently means trilogy. I wouldn’t have objected to a Book 4!

The Choice – Read, ReRead or Reconsider?

And now, for my 3 Rs of book reviews.

Should you Read, Reread, or Reconsider The Choice, The Dragon Heart Legacy Book 3?

Read!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Choice and the Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy as a whole.

But this is one where I’d add an important qualification: don’t start here. The Choice is the culmination of a story and relationships that develop throughout all three books. Start with The Awakening, continue with The Becoming, and then read The Choice.

For someone who once thought this series sounded too fantasy-heavy for her, I ended up being remarkably reluctant to leave Talamh.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Choice

Is The Choice Worth Reading?

Yes – but read the first two books first.

The Choice is a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that surprised me from beginning to end. I went into The Dragon Heart Legacy expecting the fantasy elements to be too much for me, only to become attached to the characters, enchanted by the settings, and genuinely sorry when their story ended.

And perhaps that’s my best recommendation for the series: if you’re a Nora Roberts reader who has been avoiding The Dragon Heart Legacy because you “don’t read fantasy,” I understand completely.

I said the same thing. Then I read all three, and loved every single one.

What To Read Next

• The Awakening by Nora Roberts – Start here if you haven’t read The Dragon Heart Legacy yet; this is where Breen’s journey begins.
• The Becoming by Nora Roberts – Continue with the second Dragon Heart Legacy book before moving on to The Choice.
• Explore Romance – Browse more romance books, reviews, series, and reading recommendations on Looks Like Books.

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