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A review by themanfromdelmonte
A Dragon of a Different Color by Rachel Aaron
5.0
Ms Aaron is on a bit of a rollercoaster ride by the time we’re into this book. I like the story’s frantic breakneck pace and the author is by now more than half-way to a rollicking fantasy in the best Lois McMaster Bujold tradition, which always a good thing in my opinion.
I don’t know if the magic system was thought out in advance or invented on the fly, but it seems to hang together quite well and is pleasingly distinct from others in the genre. Lots of humour sprinkled throughout, in particular, this:
“Marci had never met a know-it-all who could resist giving advice. Sure enough, after half a minute of pouting and sneering, he answered.”
I don’t think I sneer. At least I hope I don’t.
It occurred to me during the course of this book that we’re a long way from the Blade Runner-esque beginning to the pentalogy. There’s a lot still to be mined from that seam, providing the DFZ survives. Mind you, it’s got its own Spirit now, so I think that’s a given.
Anyhow, in this book, the Peril-o-Meter has been cranked up a notch and our intrepid heroes (one whom is temporarily dead, although it doesn’t seem to put her off her stride) are battling spirits that can’t be killed, including a pan-dimensional plane eater from the Void. Throw in the Golden Lucky Dragon from China and the usual Heartstriker family politics just to keep the pot on the boil.
Then there’s Bob. Bob is a bit too deus ex machina for me. Always cropping up to ensure that things go according to (his) plan. However, it’s Bob’s Big Moment in the fifth book so on with the show.
Forgive my flippancy. This is a well written and relatively undemanding story even if the characters are prone to great chunks of exposition. I will be investigating more of Ms Aaron’s output.
PS. I saw the whole Chelsie’s family sub-plot coming a mile off and if I did then I’m frankly staggered that none of the Heartstriker clan had worked it out.
I don’t know if the magic system was thought out in advance or invented on the fly, but it seems to hang together quite well and is pleasingly distinct from others in the genre. Lots of humour sprinkled throughout, in particular, this:
“Marci had never met a know-it-all who could resist giving advice. Sure enough, after half a minute of pouting and sneering, he answered.”
I don’t think I sneer. At least I hope I don’t.
It occurred to me during the course of this book that we’re a long way from the Blade Runner-esque beginning to the pentalogy. There’s a lot still to be mined from that seam, providing the DFZ survives. Mind you, it’s got its own Spirit now, so I think that’s a given.
Anyhow, in this book, the Peril-o-Meter has been cranked up a notch and our intrepid heroes (one whom is temporarily dead, although it doesn’t seem to put her off her stride) are battling spirits that can’t be killed, including a pan-dimensional plane eater from the Void. Throw in the Golden Lucky Dragon from China and the usual Heartstriker family politics just to keep the pot on the boil.
Then there’s Bob. Bob is a bit too deus ex machina for me. Always cropping up to ensure that things go according to (his) plan. However, it’s Bob’s Big Moment in the fifth book so on with the show.
Forgive my flippancy. This is a well written and relatively undemanding story even if the characters are prone to great chunks of exposition. I will be investigating more of Ms Aaron’s output.
PS. I saw the whole Chelsie’s family sub-plot coming a mile off and if I did then I’m frankly staggered that none of the Heartstriker clan had worked it out.