Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron

December 9, 2014 5 stars, Audio Book, Book Review 32 ★★★★★

Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel AaronNice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Series: Heartstrikers #1
on July 15, 2014
Genres: Adult SFF, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 315
Narrator: Vikas Adam
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
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As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn't fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience.

Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ--a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit--Julius has one month to prove that he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.

He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons...

five-stars

Why does everyone always pick on the nice guy!?

Poor Julian has a rough road in Nice Dragons Finish Last. He’s been picked on and ostracized his entire life by his family and all others of his kind (dragon-kind). He was the runt in a the most recent clutch of dragons born about 24 years ago to Bethesda the matriarch of the Heartstriker clan. And his family hasn’t let him forget for one moment how much of a failure he is because he doesn’t have any of the personality traits expected in a dragon. Ruthless, cunning, ambitious, etc etc – pretty much just think megalomaniac and that might fit any other dragon except Julian.

Loving words from big bad momma dragon whose threat of eating him is very real.

“Being a disappointment within your own family is one thing, but can you imagine what would happen if the rest of the world found out that my son, my son, spends his days locked in his room playing video games with humans? Humans, Julius! And you don’t even win!” – 4%

I have to tell you Julian sounds like a dream boat to me – but then I’m a bit of a nerd girl who likes book reading, video game playing sweet geeky guys (hey I even married one). So we definitely have the setup for an underdog story here especially since his mother has thrown him out of the house and sent him off to the DMZ (Detroit) where dragons are kill on sight and she’s pretty much crippled him by sealing away his dragon form and with it much of his draconic oomph and powers.

One of the most magic cities in the U.S is …..Detroit!? Whaaaaat?

So of all the places I could think to place the setting for a new urban fantasy series I can tell you Detroit wouldn’t have been one of my first guesses. But you know it works, it works and works so well. This unique new Urban Fantasy world is one you don’t want to miss out on. The city of Detroit has two levels. The old rundown original city and build directly on top as if it were the ceiling is the new Detroit. Thankfully we get to see both but the underbelly or lower Detroit is crazy interesting. I love how post apocalyptic of a feel some of the city has but all due to magic’s return to the world.

Don’t you hate it when your family sets you up for failure?

Julian has an impossible task ahead of him. He has to prove to his mother that he can be just as much of a dragon as his brothers and sisters (and ooo boy does he have a lot of them). He’s given a job of recovering a rogue dragoness who has escaped her family and is loose in Detroit. But it seems this dragon is only trying to live her own life, something that Julian really sympathizes with. But it’s either bag her and tag her or curtains for him. Thus he sets out on his mission to bring her in. But obstacles are of course thrown at him from every direction not only from outside parties but many from his own family. Thankfully he meets up with a freaking cool human mage, Marci.

Your partner might just be more trouble then she’s worth

The coolest people sometimes come with the worst kind of personal baggage. And it Marci’s case she takes that concept to an epic new level. She’s got mobsters after her and the problems she ran away from are quickly catching up to her and Julian. But they make one hell of a team and the chemistry between them is fantabulous. Their skill sets compliment each other perfectly and hey while Julian is a super nice guy, Marci is nice as well but she isn’t going let people roll over on her which makes them balance each other out pretty well. There is a small amount of tension between them that I absolutely adore and really think and hope is going to grow into a slow building romance. If it does ooo goody goody it will be so fun to read.

Do a little dance, I think I’m in love, get reading tonight – yah

Ok there really is no thinking about it. Earlier this year I read The Paradox Trilogy by Rachel Bach (aka Rachel Aaron) which was a kick ass science fiction space opera and absolutely fell in love with her storytelling because of those books. Now she goes and writes an urban fantasy (which is one of my favorite genres AND with DRAGONS!) that is starting out just as kick ass and literally has me making the greedy grabby hands to get hold of the next book. It’s definite, she’s now firmly in the “I will read anything you write, even your grocery list” rank of authors. I must now quickly snatch up and devour every other book she’s written. You’ve been warned, Do not disturb me until I’m done.

*I listened to the audio and read the ebook in tandem because I didn’t want to stop for one minute – both were excellent! AND IT’S ONLY $4.99 on Amazon!

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Tabitha (Pabkins)

When I'm in the zone I can flip book pages faster than the eye can see - screaming "More Input!" I'm a book, yarn, & art supply hoarding goblin who loves to draw, make toys and craft all sorts of creepy cute things. My current habit is to listen to audio books while I'm arting it up!
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32 Responses to “Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron”

    • Tabitha (Pabkins)

      YES! you seriously have to read this one. You might not have heard of it because the author decided to independently publish rather then going with a pub house. Which I think in her case or I hope anyway that it works out since she’s already had two successful series with The Paradox Trilogy, Fortune’s Pawn, Heaven’s Gate etc and the Eli Monpress books. You’re going to love this one!!!
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  7. Molly Mortensen

    This book looks awesome!

    I love books where the main character is a nice person. Dragons are supposed to be mean, he isn’t and he’s sent to a city where they hunt dragons! Okay I need this. I love the bad monster is really nice thing. I’m addicted, can’t help it.

    Of course things can’t go easy for the nice little dragon. Mobsters too, seriously? It’s great when you find authors you just can’t get enough of!
    Molly Mortensen recently posted…Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014My Profile

    • Tabitha (Pabkins)

      Heck yes – I totally agree geeky dreamboat. I love those nerd guys that don’t know they are totally hot. Unfortunately I ruined my personal geek studdmuffin by telling him too often that he’s hot and so now his head is full of himself *sigh* maybe I should tell him he’s awkward and ugly and no one but my geek loving self could want him but that is just wrong and cruel and undo the work of years LOL
      Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel AaronMy Profile

  15. Karina Hernandez

    Great review. The book sounds really interesting. I love nerdy guys too.