Review: This book is the reason I love dragons
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
Never Deal with Dragons appears to be the first published book by Lorenda Christensen.  I have to say that she knocked the ball out of the park with the story.  Here is why:Worldbuilding:  This is a complicated world and I understood it immediately.  The world building shows up throughout the book.  It is wrapped in dialog and shows up at just the right points.  Within a few pages I understood the basics and those were presented in an active not a passive voice.  That method continued throughout the book.  Very, Very difficult to do and very well done.Characters:  Myrna Banks and Trian Chobardan are the two main characters.  The book opens with a scene featuring Myrna and the basics of her character are presented there.  Again it is done within the context of the story and is developed as the book moves forward.  Trian is more of a mystery but it is a mystery that fits the story.  There are a few clues to who or what Trian is.  See if you spot them.  There are some very well developed side characters that are essential to the story.  The dragons are the least developed as this story focuses on the humans and how they deal with dragons.Plot:  Everything builds from the actions of the characters.  What seems simple at first gets more complicated as the story progresses.  Each element is introduced and developed in a progression that keeps the story moving even as surprises are added. Everything moves and builds in a way that kept me reading and in some cases guessing.Writing:  There is nothing in the writing that interrupts the flow and tension of the story. This is a well-constructed book with excellent writing.Tension:  There are numerous elements that produce the tension in the story.  There is the past relationship between Myrna and Trian, the problem between the two dragon lords, the relationship between dragons and humans, and the need to prevent a war that would devastate both humans and dragons.Never Deal with Dragons is a book I could not put down.  There were some unresolved issues at the end so I wonder if it will be the first book in a series.  The world Lorenda Christensen built is large enough for more than one future story.