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fritz_sands's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the start of a new Urban Fantasy series. And it is set in Seattle and the PNW, which brings joy to me.
Val is half-elf. Which is rare and getting rarer, since elves and dwarves left Earth 40 years ago, because it was too crowded. She is basically a bounty hunter/legal assassin of magical creatures who have killed people but who the human justice system has no way of containing or trying.
The book has a sequence of peril/resolution quest arcs. There are a number of foils for Val -- her very regal silver tiger, a VERY snotty dtagon who wants to control her and who disdains everyone, her sharp-tongued boss, and a new quarter-dwarf acquaintance. As with any introductory book, there is a lot of "setting the stage" and "setting up ongoing plot arcs".
All in all, very competently done. The status of the magical as "not really government acknowledged" but also "commonly accepted" is quite unusual. It is also clear that in later books, Val is going to have to make peace with the magical community so they don't reflexively hate her, fear her, and/or want to kill her.
I look forward to reading more of the series.
Val is half-elf. Which is rare and getting rarer, since elves and dwarves left Earth 40 years ago, because it was too crowded. She is basically a bounty hunter/legal assassin of magical creatures who have killed people but who the human justice system has no way of containing or trying.
The book has a sequence of peril/resolution quest arcs. There are a number of foils for Val -- her very regal silver tiger, a VERY snotty dtagon who wants to control her and who disdains everyone, her sharp-tongued boss, and a new quarter-dwarf acquaintance. As with any introductory book, there is a lot of "setting the stage" and "setting up ongoing plot arcs".
All in all, very competently done. The status of the magical as "not really government acknowledged" but also "commonly accepted" is quite unusual. It is also clear that in later books, Val is going to have to make peace with the magical community so they don't reflexively hate her, fear her, and/or want to kill her.
I look forward to reading more of the series.
johnamulhall's review against another edition
2.0
I stopped at 3%. I’ve read prior works from this author which were awesome and never in first person but for some reason, this is. I find that writing style ends up like a boring monologue or “I” and “my” destroying engagement and readability for me.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Val is sort of a grown up Buffy, but without the humor or the Scooby gang. The book started out fine, but when I hit about 60% I started getting really tired of the plot-to-action ratio. The storyline was minimal and book seemed to consist of Val running from one thing to another, encountering danger wherever she goes. Over and over she thwarts the foes and immediately moves on to the next ones. And the tasks she has to accomplish - not possible! Except that it's Val, and apparently she can do anything.
Val is sort of a grown up Buffy, but without the humor or the Scooby gang. The book started out fine, but when I hit about 60% I started getting really tired of the plot-to-action ratio. The storyline was minimal and book seemed to consist of Val running from one thing to another, encountering danger wherever she goes. Over and over she thwarts the foes and immediately moves on to the next ones. And the tasks she has to accomplish - not possible! Except that it's Val, and apparently she can do anything.
lthintz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
phteven06's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
whattamess's review against another edition
4.0
MacHalo Buddy Read
FINALLY got to sink my teeth into something good! I really love what Buroker has done with this urban fantasy. The magic was all in the characters and dialogue. I'm all in for book 2 buddy read!
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was in the mood for some urban fantasy and gave another book by Lindsay Buroker a try.
Loved it.
It is fast paced, entertaining, quirky, with a lot of banter the way I like.
Loved it.
It is fast paced, entertaining, quirky, with a lot of banter the way I like.
ceena's review against another edition
4.0
re-read 2021
I listened to the audiobook on this one. The narrator is pretty good, although it will always sound different from what I imagined and how I stress more of the dry humor. Still funny, although I'm not sure if I would have found reading it to be funnier. Still recommend and I'm looking forward to continuing this re-read
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Amazing new Urban fantasy series! I laughed consistently and am slowly growing to love these characters. I'm sensing a new favorite.
I listened to the audiobook on this one. The narrator is pretty good, although it will always sound different from what I imagined and how I stress more of the dry humor. Still funny, although I'm not sure if I would have found reading it to be funnier. Still recommend and I'm looking forward to continuing this re-read
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Amazing new Urban fantasy series! I laughed consistently and am slowly growing to love these characters. I'm sensing a new favorite.
writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
3.0
I've been really enjoying Lindsay Buroker's series. This is the third one I've read now and I like that they are quick easy reads. I had already read a space opera and a more traditional high fantasy by her, so I wanted to try her urban fantasy. I ended up liking this first book in the series quite a lot, but not loving it as much as I had hoped. That being said, I've read the whole series, or at least what's been published now, and I think the following books were better than this one.
The trademark Lindsay Buroker humor is present, which is one reason I like her books. They make me laugh quite a bit, and who doesn't like a little bit of laughter in their life? On the downside, I do feel like I've, for the most part, read the same main character in all three series. There are some slight differences, but they could be more distinct. Also every once in a while I find myself rolling my eyes at the attempts at humor, but still the stories are mostly good fun, and I don't think we are meant to take them too seriously.
I think my biggest issue with the main character is that she walked out on her daughter years ago to protect her from the different individuals/creatures who come after her because of her job, and I can't help but think that she could have simply left the job and chosen her daughter instead. This is definitely a flaw in the main character that I don't like, but this improves as the series progresses.
I thought this series had an interesting mix of fantasy creatures. There was pretty much everything but the kitchen sink thrown in, from dragons to vampires to orcs, and somehow it worked. I read these books back to back and I really can't remember now where one ended and the next started, so this will be my review for the whole series.
Sinister Magic (Death Before Dragons, #1): 3 stars
Battle Bond (Death Before Dragons, #2): 3.5 stars
Tangled Truths (Death Before Dragons, #3): 3.5 stars
Elven Doom (Death Before Dragons, #4): 3.5 stars
The Forbidden Ground (Death Before Dragons 4.5): 3 stars
False Security (Death Before Dragons #5): 3.5 stars
Storm Forged (Death Before Dragons #6): 3.5 stars
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader.
The trademark Lindsay Buroker humor is present, which is one reason I like her books. They make me laugh quite a bit, and who doesn't like a little bit of laughter in their life? On the downside, I do feel like I've, for the most part, read the same main character in all three series. There are some slight differences, but they could be more distinct. Also every once in a while I find myself rolling my eyes at the attempts at humor, but still the stories are mostly good fun, and I don't think we are meant to take them too seriously.
I think my biggest issue with the main character is that she walked out on her daughter years ago to protect her from the different individuals/creatures who come after her because of her job, and I can't help but think that she could have simply left the job and chosen her daughter instead. This is definitely a flaw in the main character that I don't like, but this improves as the series progresses.
I thought this series had an interesting mix of fantasy creatures. There was pretty much everything but the kitchen sink thrown in, from dragons to vampires to orcs, and somehow it worked. I read these books back to back and I really can't remember now where one ended and the next started, so this will be my review for the whole series.
Sinister Magic (Death Before Dragons, #1): 3 stars
Battle Bond (Death Before Dragons, #2): 3.5 stars
Tangled Truths (Death Before Dragons, #3): 3.5 stars
Elven Doom (Death Before Dragons, #4): 3.5 stars
The Forbidden Ground (Death Before Dragons 4.5): 3 stars
False Security (Death Before Dragons #5): 3.5 stars
Storm Forged (Death Before Dragons #6): 3.5 stars
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader.
julzcash's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25