Customer Reviews

Playing With Fire (Silver Dragon 1)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Exploring another corner of the world of sexy dragons, guardians, demons and such from her Aisling Grey series, Katie MacAlister brings a new pair to the spotlight. Playing with Fire is the first in a new series starring the yummy silver Wyvern Gabriel as he joyfully discovers his mate, the woman who can share his dragon-fire in doppelganger and demon-bound thief May. Gabriel and May are not Drake and Aisling, so even though we pick up pretty much at the end of Holy Smokes (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 4) -- and the background plot continues the confrontation between the Gabriel's Silver dragons and Drake's brother's Black dragons -- this series has a different enough feel that it is not a rehash.

May is something we haven't seen in yet in MacAlister's otherworld. May was created by a demon lord from her naiad "twin" Cyrene's shadow in exchange for her sister's "common sense", as a doppelganger this gives May the ability to shadow-walk to become almost invisible in the shadows which is quite useful her "career" - May is bound to the former silent film-star demon lord who created her, and forced to obey his commands to steal for him. May meets Gabriel when she stumbles onto Drake's estate while attempting to return a stolen item that had put a price on her head. Quite by accident Gabriel discovers that May is a wyvern's mate and seeks to claim her. The ever sensible May tries to refuse Gabriel, knowing the danger the demon poses - May has spent her life avoiding relationships knowing that should she take a lover the demon lord who wants May's body would likely order May to kill her lover. But Gabriel assures May that dragons are not so easy to get rid of and of course Gabriel is totally irresistible, so May lets Gabriel claim her in a fiery joining that literally burns up the sheets. But all is not smooth sailing for May and Gabriel, May will have to outsmart the demon lord or risk an eternity in Abbandon to avoid betraying Gabriel when her demon-lord commands a theft of a powerful artifact that will put all the dragons under the demon lord's control.

Gabriel is not as reserved as Drake or as controlling, so I enjoyed his relationship with May more than Drake's with Aisling. I liked that Gabriel was more willing to defy dragon etiquette and express his delight in his new mate and that he was unable to act with restraint in their romantic encounters. Also Gabriel's willingness to support May as she has to handle some dangerous situations in the book, trusting in the competence of his mate, and his willingness to place May's need to save her kidnapped sister over his need to acquire an object important to his Sept makes Gabriel a much more appealing love interest than Drake.

Much of the cast that we've grown to love from the previous books Drake, Aisling, and Jim are back in supporting roles. Since May isn't MacAlister's normal angsty impetuous heroine, Cyrene along with the ever irreverent Jim, the demon in dog form, serve to bring some of MacAlister's trademark zaniness to the story. Playing with Fire was a fun read setting up for more of Gabriel and May as they have some obstacles ahead of them as the story continues with Up In Smoke: A Novel of the Silver Dragons before they get their happily ever after.

I like how Katie macAlister writes. However, I forgot that she doesn't end her books but continues the stories of the same characters in another book and then another book and I hate that. Her first group of books 4 in all (I think) were all about Aisling and Drake falling in love, fighting, breaking up and getting back together, over and over. I prefer to have a good story and an even better ending. Unfortunately you won't get that here since this is the same as before, great story but you don't know how it ends since it doesn't and continues in another book and then possibly another and another and ... . . . . ..

Katie MacAlister is known for her Aisling Grey, Guardian, series which is an enjoyable, if at times rather over-the-top, group of books. 'Playing With Fire' is the start of a new series, the Silver Dragons, although most of the characters are familiar from the other series. This means that readers who are new to this author might find themselves rather lost because of the large cast of characters, many of whom are barely introduced, and the continual references to events that have happened in the Aisling Grey books.

Initially this book started out with our heroine, May Northcott, in the middle of an attempt to steal an artefact. She is a thief who has to work at the bidding of her master, the demon Magoth. May has some rather unusual characteristics as she's a doppelganger, created from her sister Cyrene but with the ability to almost disappear, to 'shadow walk'. Doppelgangers are very rare so few know much about them and their abilities, thus May's success as a thief. However at the beginning of this book when May steals the requested artefact she also takes something else, something very valuable, which starts a whole host of problems. May very quickly has a price on her head and decides to return the extra item. In doing so she runs into a whole bunch of strange people including the dragon Drake, Aisling Grey, the demon dog Jim and another dragon, Gabriel Tauhou, leader of the Silver Dragons.

When Gabriel discovers that May is his mate he doesn't realise what her being bound to the demon Magoth means. As they try to work out who has stolen an artifact, as they have to rescue various members of their group who are kidnapped and as old Dragon politics seem to be coming back to haunt them, Gabriel and May have to see what they can build together, despite May's fears about Magoth. Gabriel might also have to choose what is more important to him - May or his band of dragons.

This was one of those stories where it's never clear where the plot is going but the ride is enjoyable. The variety of characters adds to this book, although as previously mentioned they could also be a problem for new readers. May is an interesting heroine with some un-heroic moments, a ridiculous sister and a sinister and yet also slightly laughable demon master. However a big disappointment to this reader was that the book didn't end with any great resolution - many of the plot threads weren't wrapped up and there was a major element of the main story that was not completed. It's clearly a precursor to the next book but this reader would have appreciated more of a close to this particular novel.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

The story I would give 5 stars if there had been an ending, however the author left everything unfinished and hanging at the end with the story apparently continuing in a book due out in October. Perhaps this is the way this author usually writes her books but as this was the first one I've ever read I was actually a little angry to discover that I wasted the time to read a 331 page book that was deliberately written without an ending. The only way I would recommend these books is to read them once the entire series has been printed. I don't mind series in general but I've never run across a novel in which the main character's storyline wasn't resolved in THAT particular book. What a shame because the story and characters were funny and interesting but I doubt I'll remember to look for the continuation 3 1/2 months from now.

I liked it, but I didn't love it like I did the Aisling Grey series. First of all, I was never much of a Gabriel fan, he's very much the opposite of Drake who I adore. So in picking up Playing with Fire, I was doing it as a Katie MacAlister fan. I did like the premise though and May as a character is intriguing. But the relationship between May and Gabriel happened so fast, it was very much "I accept I'm your mate and we're together now". The conflict was outside the relationship not inside, and I prefer a little internal conflict. They are just too easygoing together, a problem I've always had with Gabriel.

However, unlike other reviewers, I did like the ending and how it it sets up the next book in the series, finally the storyline picked up and was moving toward something. Not sure what though, as there is an underlying mystery that is only vaguely addressed regarding outcast dragons. I'm more interested in that mystery than in Magoth, May's demonlord, who seems a bit silly and not at all frightening. I'm also intrigued by Kostya, the black wyvern, Drake's brother, I would very much like to read his story.

It took a lot of time for me to get through this book because for most of the book the romance did not interest me, it was a bit boring and bland despite Gabriel's inability to control himself during sex, it wasn't until the end that the relationship felt real to me. I'll probably buy the next book, but I won't devour it like I did the Green dragon series.

I'd give this book 5 stars except that I find the "no ending" ending of these books a little annoying. Just when you think May and Gabriel are going to get a happy ending, the book ends and you have to wait for the next one. But I enjoyed the book enough so that I will be waiting for the next one to come out!

This is a fun read and a good addition to the Aisling Grey series.

This was a nice departure from the usual Aisling/Drake dragon drama. I really like Gabriel's character and enjoyed reading about him for a change. I'm not sure how I feel about May, but it took me until the second Aisling book to like her, so I have a feeling I'll warm up to her eventually. The new direction for MacAlister in this series is a good idea, and I can't wait to read the next one.

First Chapter Impression?
First off, this book sounds interesting. Twins, and one is a naiad. I had to look this up: its basically an elemental being, a water nymph according to one dictionary I looked at. This is described later, but I just didn't know in the beginning. In this case, her name is Cyrene. The other twin, May, is a cat burglar - and not a naiad. She seems very street smart. Cyrene - not so much. Cyrene seems like a bubbly valley girl. Interesting to see they are immortal.

More thoughts? At first, Magoth seems kind of sexy. I wonder if he is actually an evil demonlord, or just downright misunderstood?

Moving on...

Gabriel, he is the wyvern (another term I had to look up - two legged dragon with wings) of the Silver Dragons Sept. He is described as having a goatee and dreadlocks, and very sexy with a silky voice. However, I can't help but picture him as Bruno Campos for some reason. I think this is cause of the vampire in Twilight with the dreads. I don't know, its my own wierd association. But the author's description is wonderful, you instantly get the impression that he looks like the human version of a dragon.

Ok, so that's all in the beginning of the book, my first impressions. Wrongo!!!!!! Some stuff I was dead on with, like Cyrene being kind of bubbly and not so much street smart. As it turns out, May is a doppelganger created from the image of Cyrene. Cyrene gave up a personality trait to create her - common sense. This is clearly evident right off the bat!

As I've stated time and again, I don't like to give up spoilers. Even if you try not to read them, inevitably you do. Some people like the surprise.

May gets herself into a bit of trouble, and while trying to get out of it, she and her twin meet a group of dragons (enter Aisling Grey). I haven't read the Aisling Grey series (YET!!!) so this was my first introduction to Katie MacAlister's dragons, guardians, demons and mages...

I had just finished reading book #1 of the Dark Ones series from the same author, and I thought this may follow the same formula. This is definitely not the case! This book makes me say "Screw vampires, I want a dragon!!!" And this is coming from a girl who has spent nearly $500 in the past to put together the perfect vampire costume. My only wish is that I had realized that it would be tied in with Aisling Grey, and I could have read that series first. Minor thing to deal with.

Later on, after its discovered that May is in fact supposed to be Gabriel's mate, and he explains the importance of mating after May tells him she is bound to the demonlord, Magoth... well ladies, he is an alpha among alphas. An absolutely wonderful quote to show his immediate devotion, "His eyes promised so much. 'I will move the heavens and earth if you so desire.'" How freaking wonderful is that?!?! It's pretty wonderful! And then when this doppelganger and this Silver Dragon commence with the nakedness.... let's just say they are definitely going to need to invest in fire extinguishers! The lovin' scenes were very hot without being overly graphic. If you are after a novel that overuses all the sexual words, this isn't it. But you definitely feel like you are right there in the moment. But more important than the sex, you really feel Gabriel's devotion, and you are just waiting for them to profess their undieing forever and ever love for each other.

Then we come to the trouble in the book, the issue we have to overcome for our heroes to be together. I really don't know what to say without giving away too much... Watch who you trust, trust those you don't know if you can, keep an eye on your group at all times, and believe in....everything :)

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I read through it like it was on fire, no pun intended! And I am so glad it is not 2008 (when it was published) so I don't have to wait for #2. I just have to find it! There is a cliffhanger, as with all books in a series and as soon as I publish this review I am going to look up where I can get #2, Up In Smoke

Yes, this is another wonderful series from Katie MacAlister. This book delved a little further into the realm of mythical creatures by both lead characters being of that persuasion. If you want a good paranormal romance with twists, turns and agonizing decisions on the part of the heroine, you will LOVE this book and the others by MacAlister. If this is your first book by this author, I recommend you start with, "You Slay Me" to give you a little background. The story is complete, but you will see characters from another series in this book, so you might want to start there. Now if that next book would just come out already...

I must say, Playing with Fire is my new favorite of Katie Macalister's books. I am eagerly anticipating the next Silver Dragons book! As always, her characters made me laugh, cry, and smile - causing me to be reading fanatically from start to finish. It was great to be able to see things more from Gabriel's point of view. And I think May was the most interesting female character yet. I liked her so much because I felt like I could really relate to her, she seemed so realistic. AND THERE WAS MORE SEX!! YES!! This book gets my five star vote!