Author: Katie MacAlister
ISBN: 978-034-099303-3
RRP: $19.99
Ok, so reading this book was a little stilted as I lost it over the weekend so had a break and read something else in the middle. I was a little concerned that the distraction would lose me and I would find it hard to fully return to the time of the Dragons and understand the ending of the book. This didn’t happen, I sank straight back in and picked up where I left off without missing a beat. And I think that is an undeniable sign of a well written book.
Love in the time of Dragons is the first novel of the Light Dragons, but before it there was the Aisling Grey series and the novels of the Silver Dragons. I am meeting all of these characters for the first time in Love in the time of Dragons and it seems to me that, apart from the two main characters, the dragons have had their stories told in the previous dragons novels. This is the beginning of the series but still the extension, or spin off even, of the other series.
Part of me really wants to say that this is easy to read and immerse yourself in, a big part of me, but then there’s this little voice telling me to remember the time shifts. A fabulous read that flows beautifully, even considering the fact that there are split second time shifts that do take a little to get used to. Our female lead is a resurrected dragon who begins the story with no memory of her life. Within pages she is having visions which flip us back to her youth. One minute she’s in the 20th century and then the new paragraph sees her back in the 16th century.
MacAlister’s dragons are immortal shapeshifters living among mortals in the modern world. Tully Sullivan (previously known as Ysolde de Bouchier) is apprenticed to an archimage which had me thinking right from the beginning that the novel must be set in the past, no it’s just that the modern world of the novels is a little different from ours.
We journey through the novel with Tully as she regains her memories and her past to truly become the Ysolde who resides within her. It is a huge journey for her that seems to last a lot longer than the week or so that it actually takes. From adamantly defending her humanity and name in the first chapters to truly becoming the dragon Ysolde in the final pages. The life of Ysolde and her mate Baltic change so drastically in bringing them back together and renewing their love and their vows it seems a shame that the situation they find themselves in at the beginning is almost exactly the same as the one we leave them in at the end of the novel.
This is another fantastical story laced with lots of sex, violence and love that really is eternal. In the present, Tully’s memories and Ysolde’s flashbacks we experience third hand quite a bit of dragon love and romance complete with breath of fire. Mixed in with quite a bit of violence, carried out in human and dragon form.
A very different world to escape into for a while, but one I’m sure you will enjoy and want to revisit at a later date as more novels of the Light Dragons are released.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I love any book which involves past lives and time travel, I think because I am so fascinated with the past.
Tragically I do judge a book by it’s cover, and my vivid imagination is already working overtime at the possible scenarios in store for the beauty gracing the face of this book.
A picture paints a million words, and first impressions last a lifetime – and my mind is filled with a multitude of glorious story lines, awaiting
to be devoured from within this alluring cover.
Having just put down (literally) a book on realm travelling I’m hunting around for another fantasy novel, truly the best to immerse yourself in. Thanks for the review Michelle, it whets the appetite.
I love all fantasy books, specially the one’s that transport you into the story so you feel like you are apart of the character living the advanture. Thank you Katie for creating this story, I can’t wait to read what advantures await me.
I didn’t know what I was missing until I read my first paranormal novel “Original Sin”. So I’m going to give psychological thrillers the boot and loose myself in the world of dragons, whimsy and fantasy so bring on ” Love in the Time of Dragons”.
What an extraordinary book, with an intriguing outlook.
It’s full of imagination, hopefully I’ll have not one distraction.
Remembering timeshifts, and waiting for bodily shapeshifts.
A story of regaining memories, and full of fantasies.
Katie McAlister, I’m sure is an outstanding writer.
A good book can do more than transport the reader to a time and place where the impossible can happen, suspending logic and sense. It can bridge the generational gap, for young and old alike. Introduced to the fantasy/magic genre by my daughter, we now revel in sharing novels and new authors. I think Katie McAlister will be on the BBB (beg/borrow/buy) list !
I have heard all about her
what a wonderful writer
i would love to read one of her books
so the others that have read them stop giving me dirty looks
Intrigue, Romance and Fantasy are my favourite genres and Love in the Time of Dragons sounds like a compelling read with an extraordinery storyline. It has a nice twist using a shape shifter. I almost want to go out and buy it instantly. I hope I win this competition.