Urban Fantasy Audiobook Review: Dancing with Flames by Susan Illene

Dancing with Flames by Susan Illene (Dragon's Breath #2)

audiocopy thanks to the author

Synopsis from Goodreads
Book 2 of the Dragon's Breath Series.

Four months ago, fire-breathing dragons invaded Earth from an alternate dimension, wreaking havoc on modern civilization. Bailey Monzac has been training to kill them ever since discovering she was impervious to their flames, but when some of the beasts begin targeting children, she can’t hold back any longer and must hunt them down.

Her ally, Aidan, would help, except the shape-shifter has his own troubles. His clan is battling for territory against the pure dragons and his father—their leader—is dying. As the shifters fight for the pendragon position, fierce rivalry takes over. Aidan’s own brothers aren’t above blackmail and murder if it will get them to the top. He must stay one step ahead if he is to survive and keep his clan safe from the pure dragons who threaten them all.

Bailey and Aidan may be natural-born enemies, but working together might be the only thing that saves them from the danger that lies ahead.

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8/10

* * *

 I feel like this series develops at a steady, good pace. The world-building is clear and established, the romance is a very slow burn, and the action sequences are as tasty as ever. Overall, big thumbs up to Susan and her dragon slayer.


Bailey continues her training with Aidan, who not only wants her as a strong ally to his shifter clan, but is more and more attracted to her on a personal level. Aidan's character has some fantastic development in this book, starting from competing with his brothers and a sister for pendragon's seat where he brokers a peace treaty and helps  in a murder investigation, and ending with revealed hidden agenda. I admit that his parts were my favorite, as I find dragon-shifters fascinating.

Bailey was no slouch either. She developed skills with new weaponry, learned to build tolerance to dragons, so she won't attack Aidan and his clansmen on sight and completed an intricate task of bartering with a sorcerer to find kidnapped children.

Both Aidan and Bailey are strong characters with memorable and likeable cast of supporting characters whom I can easily imagine developing their on stories in future books. Definitely, Donar, Conrad and Fibi (sorry if the spelling is wrong as it was on audio) deserve their own books as their characters strongly shine through the narrative.

It was a solid, steady, enjoyable urban fantasy which continues to expand its world-building with each new book. Recommended.

* * *

Я чувствую, что эта серия развивается умеренным, здоровым темпом. Построение мира ясное и чёткое, любовная линия раскрывается медленно и в неё верится, да и экшн-моменты вкусны как всегда. В общем, автор - умничка, так держать.

Бэйли продолжает тренироваться с Эйданом, экспериментирует с новым оружием и повышает толерантность к драконам, чтобы её инстинкты не побудили её напасть на клан Эйдана. Она также умудряется заключить сделку с чародеем, чтобы найти похищенных с её территории детей.

С Эйданом тоже много чего происходит. Он вступает в соперничество с братьями и сестрой за трон пендракона, умудряется заключить мирное соглашение с соседним кланом и помочь сестре в расследовании убийства. И под конец, нам даже раскрываются его тайные мотивы помощи Бэйли.

Оба, и он и Бэйли - сильные характеры, да и группа, поддерживающих их второстепенных персонажей, очень неплоха. Я предвижу и Донара и Конрада и Фиби со своими книгами в серии в будущем.

Под конец, сюжет развернулся неожиданным образом, и теперь я очень заинтригована, что же случится с героями дальше. Хорошая серия на твёрдую четвёрку. Рекомендую.