Review: LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS

Love In The Time Of Dragons by Katie MacAlister
Book 1 of the Light Dragons series

Genre: urban fantasy

Book Description:

If you found out you were a famous fire-breather, you’d be freaked out too.

Tully Sullivan is just like any other suburban mom—unless you count the days every year that she zones out and turns base metals in to gold. Those are weird.

And now she’s woken up in a strange place surrounded by strange people who keep insisting they’re dragons—and that she’s one too. But not just any dragon. She’s Ysolde de Bouchier, a famed figure from dragon history.

Tully can’t shape-shift or breathe fire, and she’s definitely not happy being sentenced to death for the misdeeds of a dragon mate she can’t remember. All Tully knows is that she wants her son back. So she’ll have to find a way to solve the crimes of a past she has no memory of living…

Source: Info in the Book Description was taken from the book's website at http://katiemacalister.com/books/love-in-the-time-of-dragons on 16/08/2011.

Review:
I like this author's voice. The story telling quality is quite compelling. However I do not like the way this author makes the main female protagonist act stupid to give the story a bit more drama. For the heroine to act out of character makes it difficult to connect with her. Secondly, a stupid protagonist is annoying to read. I put this down more on the weak plot rather than a flaw in character development because everybody else in the story has a well developed character. It's only the heroine who is just this side of stupid. Because of this annoying trait, I do not think I would be buying another work by this author even though she seems to have a compelling author's voice.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Review: STORMWALKER SERIES

Stormwalker Series by Allyson James
Books 1 & 2

My Thoughts:

I really, really like the covers of these books and I also like this author's "voice". But Book 1 started off really slow. The kick-ass heroine runs around in her harley being chased by the law for chapters on end... WTF!! However, it did get better about a quarter towards the end. But then I think that was because I've inadvertently read a spoiler from Book 2's synopsis. I therefore discerned that there is a dragon in it somewhere! Interest perked up again!

Towards the end, Allyson's story telling magic kicked in again and I would say that it was worth trudging through the first three quarters of the book. And of course it's a happily-ever-after (HEA) and I like the way Allyson James delivered it!

Book 2, like Book 1 is also a slow starter, but knowing Allyson James I persevered. It picked up quicker than Book 1 did and it was a great ride from there until the end. Allyson James' "author's voice" is very compelling even though she does have moments of dullness. The world building started in Book 1 is enhanced in my opinion in Book 2. It's like wine, it gets better with age. Or it could be that this series has grown on me. Allyson James's books tends to do that to me. A quality which I attribute to her marvellous story telling abilities!

Final verdict: Book 1 was good, Book 2 is even better!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 3
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4
Cover art = 5
Pace = 3.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Stormwalker by Allyson James
Book 1 of the Stormwalker series.

Genre: adult urban fantasy

About Stormwalker:

Half-Navajo Janet Begay possesses extraordinary power which is tied to the storms that waft across the desert. The only person who can control her when she's caught in the storm's evocative power is Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker Janet can't seem to touch with her powers. He can wield fire and not get burned, and Janet's never sure where he goes when they're not together.

Together they investigate mysterious disappearances, which Janet fears are tied to her mother's people, the mythical gods from below the earth. They are helped along the way by Coyote and Crow, but these shapeshifting gods have their own agendas.

Book One of the Stormwalker series.

Source: Info in the About Stormwalker was taken from the author's website at http://www.allysonjames.com/stormwalker.html on 13/02/2011.

Firewalker by Allyson James
Book 2 of the Stormwalker series.

Genre: adult urban fantasy romance

About Firewalker:

Janet Begay's Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural ever since it opened. But a new, dark power is rising, this time inside Janet herself. Her boyfriend Mick, a sexy dragon shapeshifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, know what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.

But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel-and Janet becomes the main suspect. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives...

Source: Info in the About Firewalker was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7830969-firewalker on 13/02/2011.

Review: THE DRAGON WHISPERER

The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare
Book 1 of the Dragons Dome series

Genre: children's fantasy

Book Description:

The Dragon Whisperer
Can you tell a Sabretooth from an Imperial Black?  Do you know how many stomachs a battledragon has, or what they need to eat in order to toast hobgoblins with dragonfire?  No?  Well then, read on...because there are some who do...

The Seven Sea Kingdoms are under attack from overwhelming hobgoblin swarms, and only the Stealth Dragon Services, (the SDS) commanded by the Earl Rufus DeWinter, keep their ancient foe at bay.

On Dragon Isle, fabled fortress of the SDS, the Earl’s daughter Quenelda tends to injured battledragons and dreams of flying them alongside her beloved father. Young ladies traditionally belong at Court, but Quenelda – in her boy’s clothes and with her special bond with dragons – is a very unusual young lady.

Root, a gnome boy orphaned by the war, wants nothing to do with dragons, especially temperamental bad-tempered battledragons that can decapitate, disembowel, or frazzle you in the blink of an eye.  But when he becomes Quenelda’s new esquire they form an unlikely friendship under the watchful eye of Tangnost Bearhugger, the Earl’s Dragonmaster.

Together with their dragons Two Gulps & You’re Gone and gentle Chasing the Stars they must face the treachery that stirs at the heart of the ruling Sorcerers Guild. For the hobgoblin tribes have united, and the dark magic of Maelstrom is rising. Does this spell defeat for the legendary SDS?

A story of friendships set against epic battles, whispered legends and a girl who can talk to dragons combine in this breathtaking debut fantasy.

Source: Info in the Book Description was taken from the book's website at http://www.dragonsdome.co.uk/synopsis.html on 11/10/10.

FTC Declaration: This book was borrowed from the library.

Review:
I had a bit of a problem with the dragons in this book. Obviously they are sentient enough to have speech capacity. And have intellegence enough to have organized society. Not to mention that they also have a magic of their own. And they are penned, collared and breed like horses and dogs? It seems to me like saying that it is okey to pen, collar and breed humans. Smacks too much like slavery to me. I am not comfortable with that. Some society and some people may think that slavery is okey. But I am not one of those. And I don't like it at all. That is the main reason why this book is not a 5 out of 5 with me.... As I was reading the book, I could not help being uncomfortable with that fact in this fantasy world that Lucinda Hare has created. Or am I just being too analytical here? However, if a reader ignore that little issue, the story telling quality is quite compelling. The world building is wonderful! As you might have surmised, I like dragons, and here dragons are dished out in all their forms! Big dragons. Small dragons. Playful ones. Fierce battledragons. You name it. It therefore feed my addiction. As such it garnered a high rating with me :) If you like dragons like me, then this book would be of high interest to you! :D

Emperically translated, I would rate this book as:
World building = 5
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Ending = 3.5
Pace = 4
Plot = 3.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Review: THE ADAMANTINE PALACE

The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas
Book 1 of The Memory Of Flames series

Genre: epic fantasy

Book Description:

The Adamantine Palace lies at the centre of an empire that grew out of ashes. Once dragons ruled the world and man was little more than prey. Then a way of subduing the dragons through alchemy was discovered and now the dragons are bred to be mere mounts for knights and highly valued tokens in the diplomatic power-players that underpin the rule of the competing aristocratic houses. The Empire has grown fat.
And now one man wants it for himself. A man prepared to poison the king just as he has poisoned his own father. A man prepared to murder his own lover and then bed her daughter. A man fit to be king?
But unknown to him there are flames on the way. A single dragon has gone missing. And even one dragon on the loose, unsubdued and returned to its full intelligence, its full fury, could spell disaster for the Empire.
But because of the actions of one unscrupulous mercenary the rivals for the throne could soon be facing hundreds of dragons . . .
Stephen Deas has written a fast moving and action-fuelled fantasy laced with irony, a razor sharp way with characters, dialogue to die for and dragons to die by.

Betrayal, deceit, savage power-plays, brutal politics and dragons. The arrival of an exciting new talent on the fantasy scene.

Source: Info in the Book Description was taken from the publisher's website at http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/the-adamantine-palace-paperback on 05/12/2010.

FTC Declaration: This book was purchased with my personal money.

Review:
A good start to a promising new series!

I picked this book up simply because it got dragons in it and glad that I did! The story telling quality is not bad. Quite compelling. The author has a very good "voice". What I didn't like is the way the author kills off characters I like!! The ending is also not very satisfying... it was not a cliffhanger, but it wasn't a satifying resolution. It was just sort of so so. Overall though, I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the next book in the series, King Of The Crags.

Emperically translated, I would rate this book as:
World building = 5
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3
Ending = 3
Pace = 4
Plot = 4

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

All Things Dragons Challenge

Now, being a dragon fantasy reader (obviously!), here is a challenge I couldn't pass up! :)

How It Works:
*Books must be related to dragons but can include other mythical/paranormal creatures.
*Reading should begin Jan 1st 2011 through Dec 31st 2011.
*All are welcome to join. (You don't have to have a blog or website).
*All books published and/or coming soon (before the end date) are acceptable.
*Any format is good. Whether you reading from a kindle or straight from a physical book, doesn't matter.
*Grab the All things Dragons Challenge button and post it (if you have one) to your blog/site. Post the books you'll be reading as well (you can gradually add/change to your list as the days go by).
*If in the future you write a review, please display the link to that post HERE.

This reading challenge is hosted by Meghan of Midnight Fumes.

Here is the the tentative first few of my "challenge list" of books which  I am thinking of reading this year, in no particular order... will add on or change as the year wears on :)


The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare


Firelight by Sophie Jordan


The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo by Adam Roberts


The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas (Already read in 2010.) [updated 02/01/2011]

(Update: 10/01/2011)


Touched By Venom by Janine CrossBook 1 of the Dragon Temple Saga


Shadowed By Wings by Janine Cross
Book 2 of the Dragon Temple Saga


Forged By Fire by Janine Cross
Book 3 of the Dragon Temple Saga


Jennifer Scales And The Ancient Furnace by Mary Janice Davidson and Anthony Alongi
Book 1 of the Jennifer Scales series

Updated: 18/04/2011

Love In The Time Of Dragons by Katie MacAlister
Book 1 of the Light Dragons series

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: THE DRAGON WITH THE GIRL TATTOO

The Dragon With the Girl Tattoo by Adam Roberts

Synopsis:

Lizbreath Salamander is young and beautiful. Her scales have an iridescent sheen, her wings arch proudly, her breath has a tang of sulfur. And on her back a tattoo of a mythical creature: a girl. But when Lizbreath is drawn into a dark conspiracy she will have to rely on more than her beauty and her vicious claws the size of sabres . . . A dragon has disappeared, one of a secretive clan. As Lizbreath delves deeper into their history she realises that these dragons will do anything to defend their secrets. Welcome to the world of The Dragon With The Girl Tattoo. A world of gloomy Nordic dragons leading lives uncannily like our own (despite their size, despite the need for extensive fireproofing of home furnishings), a world of money hoarded, a world of darkness and corruption. A world where people are the fantasy.

Source: Info in the Synopsis was taken from the author's blog at http://dragonwiththegirltattoo.blogspot.com/2010/10/dragon-with-girl-tattoo-by-adam-roberts.html on 28/11/2010.

Review: DRAGON SERIES by Allyson James

Dragon Heat by Allyson James
Book 1 of the Dragon series

Genre: adult urban fantasy

Synopsis:

Lisa Singleton has an unusual roomate, a golden dragon, a sexy warrior who has been sent to earth to protect Lisa from harm. Lisa comes from a long line of very special women with very special powers. Witches, black dragons, and demons will do anything to get their hands on her magic and the secret the women of her family have protected through the centuries. First of a new paranormal romance series.

Source: Info in the above Synopsis was taken from http://allysonjames.com/dragons.html on 17/10/10.

The Black Dragon by Allyson James

Book 2 of the Dragon series

Genre: adult urban fantasy

Synopsis:

Saba has finally managed to put the black dragon Malcolm out of her mind and out of her life. But an assault by an evil white dragon in human form on a bay area train forces her to use the magic Dragon's Tears Malcolm left behind to call him for help. Malcolm is still as tall and darkly sensual as ever, and Saba fears falling for him again. But Malcolm has returned to the human world for Saba's help--his considerable powers are being drained and he needs Saba's special witch magic to save him.

Source: Info in the above Synopsis was taken from http://allysonjames.com/dragons.html on 17/10/10.

The Dragon Master by Allyson James
Book 3 of the Dragon series

Genre: adult urban fantasy

Synopsis:

Carol Juan doesn't really believe that her grandmother's friends are dragons, though she'll admit that Caleb and Malcolm are unusual. But when a Fire Dragon, a very rare creature who can not only take human form but turn himself into pure flame, seeks her out, she has to put her disbelief behind her. The arrogant and wild Seth teaches Carol not only about fire dragons, but about her own latent mage powers that pulled him instinctively to her. The secret of the Fire Dragon might help Carol win the day or be the means to her destruction.

Source: Info in the above Synopsis was taken from http://allysonjames.com/dragons.html on 17/10/10.

FTC Declaration: These books were purchased with my personal money.

Review:
This is another retrospective review. I've read the Dragon series by Allyson James sometime ago and I'm  going to review these books together since they have similar traits. The main thing I like about these books is the author's "voice". Allyson James is a very good story teller. She is one of those rare ones who can weave a story around a reader's head and make a reader forget reality. Completely whisk you away to another world. She creates a world with such convincing authentic flare that suspension of disbelief is too easy. The magic system is believable. None of those, well it's like that because it's magic, no rhyme no reason. No, in the Dragon series the magic is like that because... it has a cause. A reason which is believable. I guess that is one of the reasons that her story telling quality is very very compelling because of the "convincing quality of her stories". I could go on and on and on about things I like about theses books but I'll let you find out for yourself instead...

The thing I hate most about this series is that it takes years... I mean YEARS! to wait for the next one!! Like book 3 was published in 2008, it's the end of 2010, when is book 4 coming out already?!

World building = 5
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Stories themselves = 4
Ending = 4.5
Plot = 4.5

This was a very entertaining read indeed! The movie did not do it any justice at all. The succedding books did not compare either.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries