The characters (and the writing of this story) were as lifeless and flat as the paper they were printed on. The only character who made the slightest impression was the heroine's self centered father (Think Eliza Doolittle's father in My Fair Lady--but much worse) and he certainly was not an enjoyable character even when he got what he deserved.The extreme overuse of metaphysical references (yes, I realize the heroine received no love after her mother died and sought some sort of affection from all that poetic "soul mates on a higher plane" claptrap...but Enough is Enough), the term "elf" for an endearment (I just kept thinking about Will Ferrell in his gold tights...nothing remotely alluring there), and the overkill on dragon references and motifs (heroine had them stitched or painted on everything she owned...probably even her drawers) were also beyond annoying.