Member Reviews
I was really excited by the premise of this book but felt let down by the heroine. The idea of a quirky dragon hunter teaming up with an attractive part demon dragon hunter seemed like the perfect premise for a paranormal romance adventure. The story itself was engaging enough but Veronica James didn't rise to the usual quality of Katie MacAlister's quirky and independent heroines. Instead she hovered the realm of immaturity and kept distracting me from being able to follow the story. I'm willing to give the second book in the series a chance since I liked the world building and the second book follows a different heroine.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review.
Memoirs Of A Dragon Hunter is a great read. The storyline and world building is well-developed. The book is a hilarious, action packed read with likeable characters. Be ready for some laugh out loud moments. Dragon hunters are part Demon and Dragon and prevent Demons from causing havoc in the mortal world. Veronica's sister calls her to meet up at a location, and when she gets there her sister tells her the truth. Before Veronica can process this information, her sister is carried off by a demon. I truly enjoyed this book and give Memoirs Of A Dragon Hunter 5/5 stars.
Love Katie's books. I've been reading them from the beginning. Her characters and storylines are amazing !
2.5 - 3 stars
This is in the same verse as her other Dragon novels, and it was along similar lines. If you like those, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. For me it was okay, but a little more scattered than her others as far as laying down the basics in starting this new line. I mean it's all scattered a bit because that's a part of her charm. ;)
I really, really, really wanted to like/love this. I'm a huge fan of Katie's Dragon Sept books, especially May and Gabriel. The Silver Dragons are my jam, a reread when I need a paranormal fix.
So I'm a bit disappointed that Ian and Ronnie didn't tickle my fancy. In fact, I was quite bored, waiting for things to pick up, witty banter, teasing/flirting, chemistry to blossom, etc. I was waiting for ANYTHING that would capture my attention. Unfortunately, that never came for me, or other reviewers, it seems. I found myself setting this book aside multiple times.
On top of that, Ronnie was not a likable character. Her quirks were not endearing. They were over the top. Freakishly over the top. And as other reviews stated, Ronnie was more teenage like than adult. I had to remind myself often that she was a grown woman.
I ended this book thinking it was me, but after reading other reviews I realize it wasn't.
If you're looking for a Katie book to read, I would suggest starting with her Dragon Sept books.
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter is the first book in the new Dragon Hunter series by Katie MacAlister. While it seems to be set in the same word as her previous paranormal books, if you have not read them you will be fine starting this series without working backwards.
Veronica was a normal (if somewhat germaphobic) math teacher getting ready for summer vacation. Then her sister died in a pile of black ash, leaving her with a sword and a destiny as dragon hunter. It turns out there's a whole other world out there filled with demons, dragons, and spirits. Now Ronnie's job is to protect mortals - and I haven't got a clue what I'm doing. Then there's tattooed hotness Ian Iskander. Part dragon hunter and part demon, Ian's got some seriously creepy business associates and keeps trying to steal my sword. So why do they keep getting lost in hungry, crazy-hot kisses? Ian is the only person who can help Ronnie figure out who - and what - she am. But trusting a half-demon is dangerous, because when you play with dragon fire, someone always gets burned.
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter is full of odd characters, magic, and mayhem. Veronica, Ronnie, has OCD and is determined to spend her summer off writing a book. She speaks her mind, is very smart, and is just a fun character to read about. Ian is tormented and torn, with secrets and struggles of his own, but with a soft heart he tries to hide. Together I liked their conversations, mostly because of Ronnie's constant chattering and complete honesty about everything she thinks and feels. Ian is much less forthcoming, but sweet in his way. I never really connected with the characters or felt invested in their success, no matter how entertaining I found some of the moments in the story. The secondary characters were fun additions to the story, and the fight scenes were highly entertaining. Sasha was my second favorite character in the book, but I feel like I barely got to know her, although to two esprits were pretty awesome too. The Monty Python reference was awesome, but might have gone on too long so that it lost its shine. I also worry that some readers will not even get the reference- I am amazed daily by people that do not get references to things I consider classic- like Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Abbott and Costello and so on.
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter was a mixed bag for me. It had the quirky characters and funny exchanges that are the hallmark of MacAlister's writing (and what made her an automatic read for me for years) but I ever quite connected with the characters and story like I used to. I am not sure if my tastes have changed, or if some of MacAlister's magic was missing from this book.
Katie Mavsllister ives us the Memoirs of a Draon Hunter, a mixed up OCD Veronica who inherits her dragon hunter powers from her dying sister.. She is challenged to save a woman and two daughters by the sister while having a hot romance with Ian Iskander, dragon hunter, who is in thrall to a demon. While dodging germs and fighting bad guys, the two dragon hunters have a torrid romance
This was a typical Katie MacAlister book. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect and the characters were relatable. I liked the book.
Well....I really don't get the chick lit type of heroine: heart of gold, clumsy, awkward, blurts out unfortunate things and can't talk about their private parts by name, instead using cutesy nicknames. When they do something stupid, they tee-hee and blame themselves. I think it's supposed to be sexy and fun and charming. However, having full-grown women, who should know better, acting like a tween is demeaning and makes me really angry.
The heroine in this book is all those things, but she's been plopped into an urban fantasy where, theoretically, she should be taking everything seriously. But she's acting like she's in a chick lit where the worst that happens is "Oh my GOSH, the hero saw my hoo-hah!" The cognitive dissonance made my head blow up.
However, it gets three stars because if you _like_ chick lit, this is pretty good. And the hero is super sweet. The scene where he has brought hand sanitizer for her kind of made my heart melt.
This book is everything that it promised. There was mystery, Romance, paranormals and humor. The story will keep you guessing and it's one that you will not know what happens next, it was very enjoyable.
I’d read several books from Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones series quite a while back and thought they were hilarious, and since I was in the mood for a quirky paranormal, I figured I’d pick up the first book in a new series by her. Either my memory is faulty or my sense of humor has changed drastically, because there wasn’t much about this book that I liked.
“I am a dragon hunter,” I told her with great dignity. “We are not woo-woo.”
Much of the plot was a confusing mess. One item, for example – dragon hunters don’t actually hunt dragons, but demons, and they’re called that because they’re actually part demon and part dragon, with the dragon bit keeping the dark-leaning demon side in check. Why or how they’re this way, I don’t know. It didn’t help that the book switched from Ronnie’s first-person POV to Ian’s third person POV frequently. Ronnie has OCD, which I thought was well done for, oh, the first two chapters, and then was promptly forgotten unless it was dragged back out for comic relief or as an example of how Ian’s mere presence “fixed” her. There’s also an annoying running gag about her writing a book about her experiences and whether her creative writing teacher would approve of various chapter titles, dialogue, the believability of various plot points… it just felt like it was trying much too hard to be funny. This is the kind of book that has a wrath demon named Falafel, which sounds delightfully quirky on the surface but just got a bit old when they were trying to have serious conversations about, you know, the fate of the world and all that. It felt, at times, like it was trying very hard to balance between being off the walls quirky and “oh no the world is doomed” and it just didn’t do either well.
“[W]hat’s the good in being a dragon hunter if you can’t cover people in dragon fire and roast them alive?”
While I enjoyed the first few chapters, the book started falling apart once Ronnie met Ian, and the instalust and subsequent instalove really turned me off. I didn’t particularly like or sympathize with either character, and I found their relationship ridiculously unbelievable and unsexy. I forced myself to read the last 25% in the hopes of clearing up the confusing plot points, but while some things became clearer, it didn’t really help the story as a whole. Overall, this was just not my cup of tea at all.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dragons and demons and spirits, Oh my! I'm so glad Katie Mac when back to her dragon world! Filled with new characters, new tales, and new obstacles to overcome, Memoirs is non stop action from the first page.
Estranged from her half-sister, Ronnie is met with a startling realization about the world she lives in. As her sister is desperate to tell the tale of dragon hunters, demons, and protecting mankind, she lays dying in Ronnie's arms and hands over a sword bequeathing her powers to her sister. Now a dragon hunter with little knowledge of who to trust, Ronnie has to complete her sister's mission and help save a woman and her two daughters before demons get their hands on them. But her new neighbor, Ian, seems to be on the same mission with slightly different reasons.
On par for every Kati Mac book, Ronnie is hilarious, particularly in her way of thinking and awkward honesty. Her best friend and self-appointed sidekick Teresita is rib-crackling funny. While Memoirs may be an action packed romance, there's definitely no shortage of comic relief between the demon fights and Ronnie learning her new skills form Ian. And who doesn't want a sexy teacher like Ian Iskander. Half demon, half dragon, allllll male. Ian is charming and caring not only for Ronnie but for Sasha, a charge and apprentice in his care.
Ronnie and Ian soon learn that the mission her sister gave her and Ian's lead to the same direction. A woman and her two daughters aren't all they seem, and Ian's mission has a darker tone than Ronnie thought. Deception and magic turn this twisting fantasy mystery into a who-dun-it with an unexpected quirky romance on top. Definitely a fun new addition to the Katie Mac fantasy realm!
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter by Katie MacAlister is book One in the Dragon Hunter series. This is the story of Ian Iskander and Veronica James.
Veronica hadn't seen her half sister in a while when she appeared to her dying with a sword, a bite and a story that was so surprising to her. Veronica learned her sister was a Dragon Hunter who has transferred this to her with the task to that her sister died before revealing who she needed to help. Then she meet Ian who she not sure at first if he is friend or foe. But their growing feelings start to make it know to them that their is more to their story.
This was a funny, hot and a page turner story for me. I am a fan of Ms. MacAlister writing so I am looking forward to more books in this series!!
DNF @50%
This sounded so good when I read the blurb. Then I started reading it and while it was fun in the beginning, the heroine's immature personality got old fast. Look, I love my quirky heroines but there is quirky and then there is silly and childish.She could hold one position in a discussion one minute and in the next she was on the other side saying the exact opposite. Conversations really went in circles with her.
I could never really get a read on Ian, even though I got to 50% I didn't have much to go on what kind of person he was.
The story feels like too much slapstick has been poured into it. The attempts at humor totally distract from the plot. I wanted to love it, unfortunately I got frustrated midway and just couldn't do it any longer.
Rating: 1/5
I couldn't finish this book despite trying VERY HARD. This is so sad because I've always liked Katie's books! I don't think I'd be recommending this book.
- Characters -
Ronnie's character was HORRIBLE! Too chatty for my likes and constant nagging. NOPE. Iskander was not my pick of men either - boring actually. The only character I really enjoyed was Falafel! Ha! Who would have thought a villianous demon would be it - he/she was so funny that I was starting to enjoy the book until Ronnie kills it.
- Setting/World -
Didn't really get a full in-depth experience. A world of dragon hunters and demons should have had exciting places to visit but no. None of that. The half of the book I finished was set in an apartment building. My imagination also didn't have lots of details to create on this demon world that Iskander is bound to w/ his demon lord.
- Writing -
Pretty sad to say but definitely not one of Katie's best. That first sex scene (I'm assuming there was more but I could not continue reading) was HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! No passion at all - too much focusing on Ronnie's chattiness that it took away from the sex. There was no excitement in the dialogue (beside's Falafel's banter although brief). Wasn't written well enough for me to finish the book.
I am a big Katie MacAlister fan and I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately it fell completely flat to me. Ronnie was ok, she wasn’t annoying or lovable, she was just sort of there. Ian is hot, but so is every male lead. His personality was ok. Basically I’m used to MacAlister’s leads being much more fun to read than these two. The side kicks and villains were quirky, but they seemed to be quirky for quirky’s sake. The whole thing was trying really hard to be funny instead of actually being so. From the chapter titles, to events, to characters like a demon named Falafel. All of the elements were there, but to me none of them worked. I doubt I’ll be continuing with this series.
3.5 stars
This one was one of my highest anticipated books, at the beginning I was a little confused but once I read more I enjoyed it a lot.This story is action packed with humor to keep your interest till the end.
I don't read a lot of paranormal stories, but I absolutely love Katie Macalister's writing. Everytime I read her stories, I get completely swept up in the worlds she creates and I always have so much fun reading them! I always jump on the chance to read her stories and she never disappoints. This book was no different. I laughed out loud and was on the edge of my seat reading this story and I can't wait to read more!
I have been a fan of this author for years, and I’m always excited when she starts a new series. I haven’t been as up-to-date as I could be with her writing as I read so many authors, and I jumped at the chance to read this book. Now I must confess to being a little conflicted about rating this book. I found it to be well-written, have an interesting plot, and for the most part I really enjoyed the characters. However, I found Veronica a little off-putting. I love that she had an unusual quirk, but she was so annoying about everything. And, while I really liked her love interest Ian, I didn’t feel much chemistry between them, probably because I found Veronica a little immature. So, with those things in mind, I did enjoy this book, but I did have a couple minor issues, but I still overall recommend it! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
I feel like I almost pulled a mental muscle attempting to keep up with this novel and attempting to enjoy it simultaneously. The first book in a new paranormal romance series is never easy. There is a lot of world-building, a ton of definitions and paranormal rules. Katie MacAlister's Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter was no exception.
The plot seemed like catnip for me. Quirky, OCD heroine with control issues is forced to become a dragon hunter. Dark and sexy fellow Dragon Hunter helps her learn the ropes. While that explains the base premise, the world MacAlister created is so crazy and convoluted, I felt like my head was spinning half of the book.
While the heat between the hero and heroine was delicious, they didn't even really interact until 35% in. I liked the characters individually but they all had strange names and backgrounds and second names and meanings... I'm getting confused just typing the review. The heroine, who knows nothing about dragon hunters, was pretty confused as well until the very end of the book and even then, most big plot points weren't explained until the epilogue. It made the ending feel rushed and a little incomplete.
The character names were hilarious (a demon named Falafel, HA) and the banter was top notch. I never at any point considered putting the book down. All the positives couldn't quite make up for the fact that I didn't know what was going on half the time. I do have hope for this series! Ms. MacAlister is a veteran author, and I will absolutely give this series a second chance.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**