Review: Fresh and exciting! This shouldn't be missed.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2013
Earth isn't as we know it today. World War III crippled the economy and most of the earth's landscape, and an accidental byproduct of genetic splicing has led to a new world order. Humans are no longer the superior race. Dragons are. Not dragon shifters; these are the real deal. DRACIM, Dragon Relations, Arbitration, and Cooperative Interspecies Mediation, was founded to represent both parties and help with a peaceful coexistence. Some humans developed the ability to interpret dragon noises, snorts and huffs into something approximating the human language making communication between the species possible. They are known as dragonspeakers. Myrna Banks is a dragonspeaker and works in the department of Reparations. A simple mission to China, to help negotiate the release of imprisoned scientists, suddenly turns into a dangerous hunt for a weapon of mass dragon destruction, and Myrna finds she has a lot more to lose than just her heart.Myrna was a delightful character. After the death of her parents, she was raised by foster parents who worked for an elderly dragon. She was well cared and provided for, and that's where her love and fascination for dragons grew. As an adult, Myrna was dedicated to her job and on a fast track to having a career, until her then boyfriend, Trian Chobarda, ruined those chances and broke her heart. When we meet her, she's deep in dragon vomit and trying to appease her clients. That opening scene alone on the first page conjured up the most hilarious image. I liked her for her wicked inner monologues, her level of comfort around dragon vomit and animal parts, and the fact that she flipped between bravery and cowardice in the blink of an eye. Trian Chobardan was as sweet as he was intense. He took his duties very seriously, even if it meant having to sacrifice his own happiness. He was pretty reserved for most of the story, except when he went into guardian mode. I could see why he got under her skin so easily and effortlessly. Even if Myrna didn't want to like him, I sure did!I didn't really buy into their chemistry, only because it took them half to three-quarters of the book to resolve their issues from the past. However, the sexual tension was ever present from the first moment since they were reunited, despite her best efforts to ignore it. Since the story is told from Myrna's POV, we only get her side of the situation until she decides to listen to him. But once they had settled their differences, I loved them as a couple. I just wish it hadn't taken them so long.The concept and execution of this story cemented it as a favorite for me. It was rich in humor, imagination, action, and sexual tension. The world building was creative and something I hadn't read before. I also felt that the author did a fantastic job in detailing the dragons - their appearances, their habits, the different living environments between the US and China, their gross eating habits (um, several cows, goats and pigs were harmed in the making of this story. You've been warned). The story moved at a good and believable pace, there were some surprises along the way. I thought the characters were well developed. Of course Myrna stole most of the show, but the author did manage to make a lot of the characters memorable, or rather, identifiable via their unique traits. The romance portion was sweet and sensual. The one love scene wasn't explicit, so I think this story will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. I laughed, I bit my nails and I cried. Never Deal with Dragons was definitely engaging from the first to the last page.If you want a different take on a paranormal romance involving dragons and a lot of blood and gore, Lorenda Christensen is a fresh and exciting voice and shouldn't be missed.Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Carina Press via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.