Update: Diana Gabaldon 'The Exile' graphic novel

'The Exile' 21 September 2010

Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' graphic novel has a front cover up on Amazon.com - and it looks great!

The graphic novel is set during the first book and does focus on Jamie and Claire - but is primarily narrated by Murtagh (Jamie's 'sidekick' and father-figure).

Diana has been posting page excerpts on her blog and they look incredible. I am so excited for this graphic novel - *squee!*

'Gobsmacked' by L.B. GREGG

From the BLURB:

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Mild mannered Mark Meehan-s good judgment flies out the window when he finds his lover banging another man. Things go from bad to worse as Mark-s crazy revenge scheme uncovers shocking secrets-sending him straight into the arms of hunky lawman and old friend, Tony Gervase, a man of limited patience and secrets of his own.

This is the first book in Gregg's 'Men of Smithfield' series.

I absolutely loved the opening of this book.

After walking in on his boyfriend and their hairy landlord, Mark Meehan corners his cheating lover while he takes Mass – whacking him on the back of the head with a Bible:

My hands clenched the book rack, and my fingers brushed against the Bible proudly displayed there. Staring at Jamie’s once sweet curls hugging his rough jaw, I slid the good book out of its safe haven. The cracked leather was worn, but its bulk reassuring. Encouraging, even. So I hauled back, fueled by boiling rage, and gobsmacked that bastard as hard as I could in front of God and everyone. The Bible hit the back of Jamie’s head with a resounding Thwack!

Ah, sweet revenge – best served Biblically.

As Mark’s life unravels he learns more and more the extent of Jamie’s betrayal. Not only did he screw anything with an XY chromosome, Jamie also stole $20,000 right out of Mark’s bank account. Learning the depths of Jamie’s depravity, Mark seeks help from childhood friend and gay policeman, Tony Gervase.

Mark and Tony have a history. Tony was the friend of Mark’s older sister, and both harboured secret crushes on each other – Mark kept his secret in case Tony turned him down, and Tony never made a move because he was in the closet throughout high school. L.B. Gregg tries to communicate Mark and Tony’s history – but it falls a little flat. There’s one flashback too short to reveal much and the rest of their ‘history’ is attempted through Mark’s internal monologue recounting his feelings for Tony.

Regardless, Mark and Tony are hot and left my M/M addiction well fed. They absolutely smoulder on the page, even without much believability behind their unrequited high school crush story.

My biggest complaint about ‘Gobsmacked’ was length. Right at the most interesting point in the story, when Mark learns the extent of Jamie’s betrayal, the story hastily wraps up. I think the e-book could have conceivably gone on for another 50 pages at minimum.

Despite this rather big qualm, I really enjoyed ‘Gobsmacked’. Mark was funny in spite of living out the worst 2 days of his life. Mark and Tony were absolutely sizzling and delicious and Gregg absolutely knows her way around M/M erotica.

Thanks to Ms. Smexy for recommending another M/M winner.

3.5/5

'Playing the Field' by Zoë FOSTER

From the BLURB:

In the glossy world of footballers' WAGs, love is the toughest game of all . . .

Jean Bennett, aspiring jewellery designer, knows as much about football as she does astrophysics. But when she moves to the bright lights of Sydney and falls in love with star footballer Josh Fox, she has to learn – fast.



Thrown eyelashes first into the world of WAGs, Jean is way out of her league. She navigates her way through semi-finals, a gruelling social calendar and salacious scandals on Josh's arm, safe in the knowledge he belongs to her – or so she thinks. But as her hair gets blonder, her heels higher and her tops lower, Jean begins to wonder who she's become . . .

Zoë Foster is sort of Australia’s real-life Carrie Bradshaw. She was Cosmopolitan magazine’s Beauty & Lifestyle editor, before becoming Beauty Director of Harper’s BAZAAR magazine. Now she writes a monthly personal column for Cosmopolitan magazine.

‘Playing the Field’ is all about footballer WAG’s (wives and girlfriends), something Ms. Foster actually knows a fair bit about. For a few years she dated NRL (national rugby league) player, Chris Wing. They featured sporadically in the Sydney society pages and had an on again/off again relationship. They also had a few bumpy patches, most notably Chris’s rumored infidelity with model/waste-of-space Lara Bingle.

So you know that Ms. Foster is writing from life. It lends a fair bit of credibility to her story… and a touch of cringe. Especially when some bitchy WAGs closely resemble the real-life Ms. Bingle…

You do feel sorry for Jean. She admits early on to having ‘daddy issues’ since her father abandoned her family to run-off with her mother’s ditzy hairdresser cousin. Plus there’s the fact that Jean is living with her older sister, Collette, who is nursing her own heartbreak after discovering her fiancée was cheating on her with an ex. There aren’t a lot of stable relationship role models in Jean’s life, and even fewer trustworthy men. And you do wonder why she is setting herself up for heartache with footy legend, Josh Fox. Especially when she does an Internet search on him that points to promiscuity and a ‘ladies man’ reputation.

Add the fact that when she first meets him (and he hits on her) he is actually in a relationship with one Tess Clifton. Ms. Clifton is a blonde-bombshell, aspiring TV talk-show-host and the daughter to one co-owner of Josh’s rugby team.

Warning bells should be exploding for Jean when, after their second date, Josh and a few teammates get caught on CCTV being kicked out of a brothel. He claims innocence, and Jean basks in the glow of his affection because he’s so relieved to have a laidback, understanding girlfriend.

Jean’s life is further warped by the WAG dictate. She bemoans having to dress to the nines for all occasions – footy games, airport runs, luncheons – all requiring full make-up, heels and the latest over-sized tote bag. Then there’s the jealousy – football groupies openly ogle Josh and hotter, younger women drape themselves over his body when taking the obligatory fan camera-phone-pose. Even worse, Josh (and his teammates) take it all as a given. They’re treated like Gods – women want them, grown men want to be them and kids idolize them. Jean has to suffer through countless, hair-raising WAG stories about standing next to their footy paramours when groupies offer them blowjobs, handjobs and toilet-stall romps.

Jean becomes increasingly frazzled by other Glamazon WAGs and a feeling that she is competing against them. She pretends to be ‘okay’ when groupies flirt and Josh laps it up – all in the name of being his understanding, ‘low-maintenance’ girlfriend. But it’s eating her up. She’s turning into someone she doesn’t like very much.

On a very basic level, Jean hates that she now dresses to impress men – Josh, and his teammates. She hates that she feels self-worth when one of Josh’s friends comments on her good looks, as though she is earning her keep and having a legitimate reason for being on Josh’s arm…

Zoë Foster has such a great, distinct voice in Jean. At the beginning she’s an innocent bystander, taking in ridiculous WAG shenanigans and offering up witty commentary;

From their incy-wincy bums and lusty-busty cleavage, it seemed impossible that some of them had actually grown small humans inside. Maybe they knew the doctor who delivered Victoria Beckham’s babies. Via her ear.

Ms. Foster has a very dry, sarcastic humor. And it’s all whittled down by precise metaphors and analogies, like this gem of a sentence, describing one of the few friendly WAGs;

A rose between the thorns; a suntan amongst the sprays.

Jean’s humor is especially sharp when describing Tess Clifton, Josh’s crazy ex-

She was one nuclear accident off being a super villain.

Foster really utilizes voice to communicate her characters transition to ‘the dark side’. In the beginning Jean is very realistic about the vapid world of WAGs, and she offers up scathing commentary to prove it. But as the book progresses and Jean becomes more and more caught up in the lifestyle, her voice becomes noticeably more asinine. At one point she muses on the difference between ‘Whatever WAGs’, UltraWAGs’ and ‘High-school Sweetheart’s’ - I was rolling my eyes and pursing my lips at the gossipy rubbish sprouting from Jean's once witty voice.

Halfway through this book I was all ready to give it 5-stars. Because I thought I knew where it was going… Jean was losing herself to highlights and mini-skirts, while Josh continued to act like a privileged sports star… I was really looking forward to reading some empowering feminism sprout forth from Jean’s glossed lips, and I could just hear the opening lines of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’… R-E-S-P-E-C-T….

But then it all goes horribly wrong. The ending is a rush-job – Foster throws a curve ball that sends the plot into a tailspin I never saw coming. And despite feeding Jean’s (and readers) distrust of Josh, he comes out inexplicably smelling like roses… and then the ending comes too close to resembling Ms. Foster’s own life… it just all goes so, so wrong. And it’s a shame, because until the last 2 chapters I was all set to proclaim what a 5-star winner this book was. But the ending completely fizzles. The whole book feels like it’s leading to one giant empowering finale for Jean, in which she realizes how toxic, angst-ridden and just plain ‘high school’ the whole footy/WAG world is. But Foster completely misses her chance – thereby making the entire book irrelevant because the ending is so conventional, unbelievable and downright clumsy.

Read this book to get a reality-check about the peroxide world of WAGs. It will shock, disgust and intrigue you – even more so since you know that Zoë Foster is writing from life. But prepare to be bitterly disappointed by a ‘WTF?’ ending that overshadows a great premise and wonderful writing.

2/5

'Succubus Shadows' by Richelle MEAD

From the BLURB:

Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals--all child's play to a succubus like her.

Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend's wedding is a different story. Georgina isn't sure which is worse--that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina's roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there's Simone, the new succubus in town, who's intent on corrupting Seth.

But the real danger lies in the mysterious force that's visiting her thoughts, trying to draw her into a dark, otherworldly realm. Sooner or later, Georgina knows she'll be too weak to resist. And when that happens, she'll discover who she can trust, who she can't--and that Hell is far from the worst place to spend eternity. . .

** SPOILERS **

The following review will make minor-ish references to the events in books 1-4 of the Georgina Kincaid series. If you haven’t yet read those books, you might want to turn away now…

Anyone whose read up to book #3 knows that Richelle Mead’s Urban Fantasy series is a test in patience and heartbreak. Since the gut-wrenching events of ‘Succubus Dreams’ I’ve found that I have to take a deep breath and plunge myself into the world of Georgina Kincaid. Because since that book Georgina has been put through the emotional ringer, and fans along with her.

Richelle Mead is a masterful storyteller, and her true talents lie in characterization. She builds these characters who are so vivid and wonderful, and as readers we wish they were real people we could call up for a chat and hang out with down at the pub. And her characters are so charismatic and endearing that readers do get emotionally invested in their lives – as readers we read vicariously. This is a good thing, most of the time. But for ‘Georgina Kincaid’ fans, we’ve been there through every step of Georgina’s heartbreak and heartache. I can only speak for myself… but Georgie’s emotional tumbles have often left me feeling a little bruised and battered. I finished both ‘Succubus Dreams’ and ‘Succubus Heat’ with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart. Silly it may be, but it’s just proof that Ms. Mead knows how to hook her readers and write beloved characters.

There’s good news and bad news about ‘Succubus Shadows’. Bad news; be prepared for more emotional battery. I bawled my eyes out again, but I’ve come to expect that from a series in which I have so much emotional investment. The good news; for all those heart-wrenching chapters there is a HUGE pay off. Seriously big, big changes that will make up for all the tears previously….

Fans of the series have long been speculating and chatting about the series conclusion. With only one book to go until the series is finished, that speculation has kicked up into a furor. There is one popular theory floating around about how all of Mead’s clues and tidbits will come to a head in the final book… and fans will be happy to know that in ‘Succubus Shadows’ all of fans supposing and guesswork is all but confirmed.

“Sometimes I just feel like the same things are happening to me over and over. Like, even this siren thing. Why me? In the last year, I’ve been targeted over and over. What are the odds? Why does this keep happening?”

I love, love, love Richelle Mead. Anything she writes, I will buy. Because I haven’t been disappointed by her yet. Her most popular series is ‘Vampire Academy’, but I personally think her *best* series is ‘Georgina Kincaid’. It has all the right elements of Urban Fantasy – mythology, romance, smut, action and fantastic characters. ‘Succubus Shadows’ is one of the best books in a quality series. Everything comes together beautifully – the storyline is intense but rewarding, the characters have high-stakes emotions and are fascinating to read. I devoured this book in one day, it was that good. Even when I was crying through those tough chapters, I loved every minute of this book. It was one of my most-anticipated books for 2010, and Ms. Mead did not disappoint.

If you haven’t yet, you must get into the ‘Georgina Kincaid’ series. It is a dark Urban Fantasy – there are heavy doses of romance and smut (of course, it is about a Succubus after all) but Ms. Mead does like to explore the darker side of human emotions in this series. Regardless of the emotional whirlwind, ‘Georgina Kincaid’ is a staple of the Urban Fantasy genre and absolutely addictively delicious.

5/5

P.S. - Fans of the ‘Dark Swan’ series will also be pleased to know that at the end of ‘Succubus Shadows’ there’s an excerpt of the 3rd book, ‘Iron Crowned’, set for a 2011 release.

'Changeless' by Gail Carriger

From the BLURB:

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

I am completely in love with Gail Carriger and her ‘Parasol Protectorate - Alexia Tarabotti’ series.

I ate up her first book, ‘Soulless’ – and I have to admit there was a small part of me that wondered if Ms. Carriger could capture lightening in a bottle twice. Well, ‘Changeless’ undoubtedly proves that – yes – she jolly well can!

In this book we learn some very dubious and interesting things about the late Mr. Tarabotti, Alexia’s father. Carriger also reveals some very large tidbits about Lord Conall Maccon and his old Highland werewolf pack.

Alexia continues to impress and my fictional girl-crush grows. She is such an unconventional leading lady for this 18th century London setting – she is a veritable Amazonian warrior in trim-lace, and she’s back to her wonderfully witty self in ‘Changeless’.

Ms. Carriger also introduces a cast of new and wonderful secondary characters. There’s the wonderfully androgynous inventor, Madame Lefoux who is hired by Lord Maccon to create a weapon-parasol for Alexia. Lefoux is a really fantastic character; Alexia and readers are never entirely sure if we can trust her, but we like her nonetheless. She wears men’s clothes – cravats and top hats – and it’s positively delicious to read her not so subtle flirtations with Alexia, which Alexia is completely clueless about.

Then there’s Alexia’s stepsister, Felicity Loontwill, who crashes Aliexia’s investigations and is foisted upon her as a traveling companion. Felicity is deliciously devilish, and lives up to the ‘evil stepsister’ cliché.

One of Lord Maccon’s werewolf military leaders is also introduced – Major Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings. If the name sounds pompous, the man himself is even worse. He has only a small role in ‘Changeless’, but it generates the most laughs and I sincerely hope he becomes a series regular.

Of course Lord Connall Maccon, London Alpha, is back and sweetly gruff. He and Alexia are completely smitten and adorable, their scenes are an absolutel delight.

“Oomph,” said his wife. “Not now.”

He nuzzled in at her neck, kissing and licking her softly just below her ear. “Just a moment,” he said. “I need a small reminder that you are here, you are whole and you are mine.”

Vampire toff Lord Akeldama also returns, along with his italic-speak and sweet endearments; “daffodil!”. He is definitely a favorite of mine, along with his ‘delicious’ drone, Biffy. These two enter a scene and hilarity ensues!

The writing itself is an absolute treat; scrumptious and voluptuous. Carriger’s prose reminds me of Oscar Wilde, with a dash of Joseph Heller, Jane Austen, H G Wells and Jules Verne thrown in for good measure. Her writing is an absolute feast. And the best thing is that Carriger’s love of the ‘Steampunk’ sub-genre is unmistakable. It’s clear in her describing a dirigble, ‘glassicals’ and a new invention of a dirigible-attached teapot. She loves this alternate reality and her writing of this modern 18th century is a delight because her love of the genre is infectious.

I am crazy about this series. So far this is the only Steampunk I’ve read, and I do keep meaning to wade deeper into the Steampunk waters… but I’m afraid the bar has been raised to such great heights by Ms. Carriger, that anything else I read in the sub-genre will fail dismally by comparison.

‘Changeless’ is wonderful, of course. But the ending will send fans reeling. Don’t read the blurb for book #3 ‘Blameless’ until you’ve read ‘Changeless’… because there are BIG, HUGE spoilers.

5/5

Coming 1 September 2010

'Silver Borne' Mercedes Thompson # 5 by Patricia BRIGGS

From the BLURB:

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe, and now the leader of the werewolf pack - who's maybe-more-than-just-a-friend - has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they're all about to find out how implacable - and dangerous - the fae can be. OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday...

I absolutely inhaled this book. I read it in about five hours, and was up until 2AM because I could not put it down. This is perhaps my most-anticipated book of 2010, and I was not disappointed.

Briggs promised that 'Silver Borne' would be Samuel's book, and it certainly is. Early on in the book Samuel tries to commit suicide. He is only saved by his wolf, 'Sam', who takes the reigns to ensure human/wolf survival. So while Mercy is dealing with the fae and a 'hot' fae book, she has to keep an eye on Sam and figure out what will ignite Samuel's will to live.

‘Silver Borne’ is the fifth Mercy Thompson book, and I think this was a very important installment in the Mercy series. ‘Silver Borne’ marks Mercy’s true transition to pack-member, thus opening up a whole new world for Briggs to explore.

In previous books Mercy has been on the outside of Adam’s pack, looking in. Werewolf ‘business’ was always something Mercy heard about from the likes of Warren, Jesse and Adam. In ‘Silver Borne’ Mercy, and readers, become integral and witnesses to Adam’s pack.

One big change in ‘Silver Borne’ is that quite a few of Adam’s pack members, who have been secondary characters in previous books, are brought to the fore and fleshed out. Characters like Darryl, Mary Jo and Auriele who only ever had minor roles and little characterization in previous books are given their own personalities, histories and future storylines because they are now firmly in Mercy’s world.

Beloved characters like Warren and Ben, the only members of Adam’s pack to have had substantial roles in previous books, both have lengthy appearances in ‘Silver Borne’. I think their roles will only grow in future books because they are Mercy’s staunchest supporters, and the pack members she is closest to.

‘Silver Borne’ clearly marks Mercy’s transition from loner to pack – and it’s a wonderful opportunity for Briggs to explore a different side to werewolf dynamic. We get to read a ‘challenge’ – when one werewolf fights another for advancement in pack rank. Mercy learns more about her mental and metaphysical links to the pack and Adam. It makes for fascinating reading, and adds new dimensions to the ‘Mercy Thompson’ world.

I’ve read a few early reviews of ‘Silver Borne’ that said anticipation and high expectation for the book equaled disappointment when it didn’t live up. I really didn’t have that feeling. But then again, pretty much the only thing I wanted from ‘Silver Borne’ was some good Mercy/Adam tenderness. And Briggs delivers tenfold. Adam and Mercy are still navigating their mateship, but they are both absolutely smitten with one another. ‘Silver Borne’ has the steamiest Adam/Mercy coupling since the series started, and there are plenty of opportunities for fans to *squee* at the romantic-ness!

He smiled at me. “You were supposed to be the Alpha’s eye candy.”

Adam laughed.

“What?” I asked him. “You don’t think I’d be good eye candy?” I looked down at my overalls and grease-stained hands. I’d torn another nail to the quick.

“Honey is eye candy,” said Ben apologetically. “You’re… just you.”

“Mine,” said Adam, edging between Heart and me. “Mine is what she is.”

I only had 2 disappointments with ‘Silver Borne’. The first is, no Stefan. Arguably he had a very big role in ‘Bone Crossed’ when the vampires were the villains… but he is a fan favorite and it would have been nice if he had an appearance.

My second complaint was to do with Samuel. In promoting ‘Silver Borne’ Briggs promised that it would be Samuel’s book, but I wasn’t 100% satisfied.

For those who have read the book, let me explain.

**SPOILERS**

I think it was kind of a cop-out to have Sam’s love interest be someone he met hundreds of years ago. I kind of wanted an evolution like we got with Charles and Anna in the ‘Alpha & Omega series’. Instead Briggs conveniently (and by coincidence) throws someone in Samuel’s path who he once loved, but had to walk away from. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that Samuel was ‘saved’ and found a reason to live… but at the same time I would have preferred reading a whole contained love story, starting with ‘boy meets girl’.

**END SPOILERS**

I absolutely loved this book. ‘Mercy Thompson’ is my all-time favorite Urban Fantasy series, and ‘Silver Borne’ reinforces my love. I can’t wait for book #7, ‘River Marked’!

5/5

'Voices of Dragons' by Carrie VAUGHN

From the BLURB:

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?

Ms. Vaughn has made an urban fantasy name for herself with the ‘Kitty Norville’ series (currently with 7 books). ‘Voices of Dragons’ not only marks Ms. Vaughn’s first stand-alone novel, but her first YA.

I really, really wanted to like this book… but I didn’t

I had such high hopes for ‘Voices of Dragons’. I was thrilled when Vaughn first announced that she was branching out and not only writing a stand-alone, but writing for a totally different readership. Great. I love the ‘Kitty Norville’ books and because of that I am willing to give anything Carrie Vaughn writes, a try.

I liked the premise – or at least how Vaughn first pitched the book on her blog: “Carrie's first young adult novel is just your typical ‘girl meets dragon’ story. With bonus rock climbing and jet fighters!”. And I loved the cover.

Unfortunately while I loved the premise and the cover, I didn’t love the book itself.

For one thing the action takes a long time to kick into high gear. It wasn’t until page 167 that the plot really picks up and gets interesting. Everything before that felt like a lot of dragging narrative. And part of the problem is the fact that I felt disconnected from the characters. The whole story is about a girl, Kay, meeting and befriending a dragon, Artegal. But there aren’t enough scenes between Kay and Artegal – and what little scenes there are aren’t long enough and Artegal doesn’t have enough of a personality to carry in them.

I think part of the reason I felt disconnected from the characters was the third-person narrative. Not having Kay’s interiority meant that I didn’t really get to know her, she remained an enigma and ultimately not very interesting. I think Vaughn tries to make up for the lack of Kay’s perspective by giving her an adventurous streak. The opening chapter of the book has Kay rock-climbing; something she does frequently, sometimes illegally and without her parent’s knowledge. She’s meant to come across as an edgy daredevil – but her penchant for secret rock climbing doesn’t match up with her otherwise shy, self-doubting personality.

Having said that, one thing I appreciated about ‘Voices of Dragons’ was that Vaughn let her YA protagonist be a hero. Kay does step-up to a difficult situation and try to make a difference – and that’s great. I love that the young adult protagonist is a real champion.

I also felt like Carrie Vaughn was writing self-consciously for her YA audience. She includes a secondary storyline about Kay and her long-time guy friend, turned maybe-crush, Jon. Kay’s best girl friend, Tam, has recently started dating and is desperate for Kay and Jon to ‘hook up’ and for Kay to discover the amazingness of sex. It’s a rather contrite subplot about Kay feeling self-conscious because she’s 17 and not particularly interested in dating or sex, so she wonders if there’s something wrong with her. This little plot felt as though Vaughn was ticking a YA box – as though having a ‘teen romance’ and ‘sexual-identity conflict’ is a must. But I felt no connection between Kay and Jon and that whole plot felt so mechanical and obligatory that it just did not work for me on any level.

One of the things I liked about ‘Voices of Dragons’ was the alternate history Vaughn wrote for the dragons. In this alternate reality dragons, much like dinosaurs, once roamed the earth thousands of years ago, but eventually went underground to become the stuff of human myth and legend. It wasn’t until 1945 when the atomic bombs went off in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that the world shook and awakened the dragons. They emerged from the earth’s core and changed the course of history. Instead of the iron curtain falling over the world, the Cold War never happened – instead ‘The Silver River Treaty’ forced America, Canada and the Soviet Union to come together and negotiate the ceding of territories to the dragons. Humans and dragons decided to erect borders and keep to themselves.

Fantastic stuff. Very detailed and something Ms. Vaughn has clearly spent a good deal of time mapping out and thinking about. And it feels believable – this idea that today the human/dragon border is patrolled by fighter-jets and that the tender treaty is at constant risk from humanity’s need to be top of the food chain.

“I think you’re right.” He turned to Kay. “Planes have nicknames. The B-17 was the Flying Fortress. The P-51 Mustang. The B-26 Marauder. This new one, the F-22. You know what the guys are calling it?”

She shook her head.

“The Dragonslayer,” he said.

I also love the irony of man’s most devastating creation (the atomic bomb) awakening one of our oldest fables, the dragon. Wonderful stuff – it’s just disappointing that such a fantastic premise falls short.

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. I still love Carrie Vaughn, and I am excited that her second stand-alone novel, ‘Discord’s Apple’ is coming out July 20 this year. I am somewhat relieved that ‘Discord’s Apple’ is an adult book and not at all related to the ‘Voices of Dragons’ world though.

2/5