Customer Reviews

Me and My Shadow (Silver Dragons, Book 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I don't think it's Katie MacAlister's fault. I don't think it's Laura Leigh's fault, I don't think it's any of the authors' faults for putting out greyed out books. I think it's the publishers pushing these in demand, best selling authors too hard and too fast. I find that Alexandra Ivy's new book was just like Heat Seeker, and now like Me and My Shadow. The books are good, they are decent, but unfortunately fans have come to expect that moment of awe, that first time opening You Slay Me or Dangerous Games. We just demand that fresh, plot filled, character developed book.

Me and My Shadow was about May and Gabriel. Aisling is also about to give birth so she gives May full 'custody' over Jim (you know sixth level demon dog). Magoth is still hanging around trying to seduce May, though it's pointless because of the curse, and generally getting in everyone's way. May now has a shard of the Dragon's Heart in her which apparently is giving her grief. First she finds herself attracted to Magoth... no no! not Magoth! Just the dark power he represents! It's odd it's like May has changed her personality a bit. I mean the first book Playing with Fire was hilarious. Gabriel couldn't mate with her, May's got all these cool doppelganger powers, and her twin is causing grief with out her common sense. The interactions between all the characters were fresh and sarcastic. Now however if feels like all the characters are just playing a role. The way they bicker back and forth has lost some of it's glow and has begun to dull down.

Besides that there are part of the plot that drags on, where other times it is glossed over. However the book is paperback price and does retain some of MacAlister's old sarcastic charm. Drake's mother was a little too sarcastic in the fact that she tried too hard. May was no longer a calm influence, the Shard made her act all 'dragony' (her words not mine) and Drake was more than overprotective, it was like they were all acting. I Must confess though that there were parts of the book that did have me laughing and almost resurrected (haha Catlina) the old spark back. We are left with another cliff hanger that MacAlister so loves, and an excerpt from a new Dragon series.... The Light Dragons.... It's worth paperback price.. worth your time? Only you can deduce that.

Silver dragons fighting blue dragons with black, red and green dragons! It's
dragon-palooza. But while Drake could barely shift 20% (and only if Aisling put on the chase), and we never saw Pal or Istvan shift at all, it seems the rest of the dragons in other septs can fully shift to dragon. And May, with the dragon heart shard embedded in her chest, also has the ability now. She continues to struggle to keep herself and keep the shard from consuming her.

So Baltic, resurrected with the von Enders light sword, ability to use arcane
magic, and enter the shadow world is throwing folks into turmoil. He wants to
unite the shards and take over the weyr. He also wants his mate Ysolde the last
holder of the shard May keeps. In his mind, that is the last connection to
Ysolde and if May has it, he must have May.

In the midst of this, Magoth is causing his usual brand of ex-demon lord mayhem,
Bael hands Magoth's power to an unlikely person who hands it off to an even more
unlikely person, Sally shows her true colors which aren't as evil as one might
think, Kostya and Cyrene continue to hash out their personal issues in public and Drake's going nuts since Aisling is close to delivering (which she does during the major battle). The best part was Jim in human form...ha!

I really enjoyed the green dragon story with Aisling's voice. The silver dragon
tale wasn't as great since I never really found that I liked May too much. Where Aisling slowly warmed up to Drake and gave us the opportunity to fall in love with him too, May and Gabriel were too immediate. May's feelings for Gabriel were an anvil to the head too often. And of course, the cliff-hanger at the end was unlikely...you'd think that someone other than Kaawa would've recognized Tully as a dragon let alone THAT dragon. The next series is the Light Dragons...which didn't seemingly exist but perhaps it explains Baltic's strange powers.

this one did not hit it out of the park for me. was it rushed? *shrug* was not enough time devoted because Ms. MacAlister has another new series (highlander travel//or futuristic something-or-other)? *no idea* was every book before this character development of May and we finally see her true being, (as suggested)and was i annoyed at the huge change in May? *seems like*

will I buy the next. Not every author can wow us readers every single time. Previsously all the books in this series were greatly enjoyed. Yes, I will be purchasing the next book in the series.

I will have to disagree with some of the comments. And yes publishing houses are demanding that authors churn out book like bakery loads. More than 1 book per year, max two is too much, and although most of these books are less than 300 pages long, a slower pace could bring quality back.
I actually liked "Me and my Shadow" for the very reasons others disliked it. These series was less about romance and more about relations, transformation, humor, fantasy and action falling in a different genre.
In this last book May further transforms from the shadow slave into a free individual on her own. The love/attraction for the Dragon Gabriel grew, "humanized" May, and empowered her to seek her individuality, no longer satisfied with just being a shadow. Even if the motives of neither Gabriel nor May to get initially together were not honest, their relationship and love was born from the initial lust and the selfish Gabriel's motives. Gabriel gave her what she wanted most: to be cherished and loved for what she was, and for what she became. The shard that she feared was the most surprising of all. The sex scenes did not lack humor or steam, and for sure did not lack imagination. Wow!
The fact we get to see some more of prior characters make it even more appealing. We see the circle expand and we are able to visit with old friends and meet new ones. i.e. Ash and Drake and future family, we meet new players, and solve old riddles and are presented with new ones. Black is grey, and white is tan.
Magoth, the now ex- demon lord with his incredible arrogance, conceit and other bad traits keeps things going and fresh. He is the man-demon-thing who cannot take no for an answer, who might lost most of his status and power but not an ounce of conceit or evil, and whose actions always elicit a good laugh. Without May`s inner struggle with her unwelcomed Magoth's ongoing sexual attraction, the story would have been less real a and not so funny. Jim, the demon dog, whose wry humor kept me laughing, should be a guest in books to come. He is one of the best side kicks ever: doggie, cute, sassy, a bit crass and with just enough evil to make him even more likeable. His comments are just too sweet, wicked and to the point...Ouch!!, and he just cannot keep his mouth shut. But best of all, he just loves being a dog and wants to stay as one.
As for the ending was not bad while it gave us some closure it presented new possibilities, and why not? Waiting can be fun too.

Ms. Macalister's new direction in writing, one that might diverge from heavy romance while not ignoring it completely, targets a wider audience, one who wants fantasy, action and romance and more in the books they buy. Ms. Macalister follows a less traveled path; one that is being tested by other writers with some success and is developing into a genre of its own. It is an intelligent mix of noir, fantasy, steampunk, action, and with characters who are complex and flawed, less predictable, harder and tougher, heroines that reinvent their selves into newer, darker, tougher models, and that are not afraid to love while keeping their individuality.

The third and last of the Silver Dragon trilogy begins with May surrounded by chaos. She is watching her pregnant friend's dog, which also happens to be a demon. Also, the ex-demon lord she worked for lives with her since his banishment, interrupting her private life with her dragon mate, Gabriel. On top of that, she contains part of a highly desirable dragon relic, a shard, that confuses her emotions: are her feelings her own or those of the dragon shard. Not to mention the shard has made her a target for enemy dragons.

As she deals with the ex-demon lord, her emotions, and the enemies, she must find herself and how she truly feels about Gabriel.

As with May's life, this book is chaotic. I understand the book is supposed to be chaotic, but I found myself re-reading parts because I could not figure out what exactly was happening. There are many characters, many which are in scenes but having conversation that are off topic. Therefore, more confusion ensues.

Also, there is a lot of plot, too. May is dealing with having the dragon shard, dodging enemies, fighting off her past as a thief, babysitting the demon dog and the ex-demon lord, maintaining her relationship with Gabriel and the dragons, and to top it all off, Aisling, from the previous dragon books, is having a baby. Needless to say, there is too much happening.

Overall, Me and My Shadow is chaotic because there is too much happening in this story and too many (annoying) characters. Hence, the pacing and storytelling is erratic, unfocused, and confusing. I have read almost every book by Katie MacAlister, but after this story, I do not know if I will continue to do so.

BookingIt Grade: D

I enjoy Katie McCalister as an author and I was really looking forward to this book, but I felt that it left unfinished business in terms of the relationship between Gabriel and May. I wish I was able to see their relationship develop more. The next book that she is coming out with is from the perspective from another character, which the book acted as a segway for more or less.

Doppelganger May Northcott has two major issues that could keep her from her beloved wyvern mate Gabriel. First she has a dangerous dragon shard inside her heart and second she remains in indentured servitude to sexual predator former demon lord Magoth.

However, while the loving couple struggles with her delicate conditions, the lethal black dragon Baltic has apparently come back to life. No one in their right mind trusts Baltic, so though he is PLAYING WITH FIRE and risking everything GOING UP IN SMOKE Kostya the black dragon demands a council showdown. While every creature jockeys for position, a pregnant Aisling Grey and her mate Drake await the birth of their child.

The latest Silver Dragons entry is a fabulous urban fantasy as everything even to a degree the storyline seems out of control, chaos lives in the heart of Katie MacAlister's saga. The story line is fast-paced form the onset and never slows down as Gabriel struggles to keep his beloved at his side and safe while the dragons are heading towards an encounter with a neat twist. Fans will enjoy visiting the chaotic charming world of Ms. MacAlister where the unbelievable becomes believable.

Harriet Klausner

I ordered this book and got what the description said. I was pleased that it was mailed to me promptly. I would purchase products from this company again. satisfied

I never put a book down as quickly as I put this one back. I read almost any genre and enjoy most all of them especially ones with dragons, witches, vampires etc combined with humor, but this one was so hard to follow there was no way I would finish it.

I was disappointed by this book and the whole silver dragon series. May was a disappointing character. I hope the next dragon series is a better read. I would borrow this book from a friend or library.