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The Smoke Thief (Drakon #1)

by Shana Abe (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 3,437 ratings · 341 reviews

For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret–and their survival–is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary....

Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confo...more For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret–and their survival–is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary....

Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confounding the London police. His wealthy victims claim the master burglar can walk through walls and vanish into thin air. But Christoff, the charismatic Marquess of Langford, knows the truth: the thief is no ordinary human but a “runner” who’s fled Darkfrith without permission. As Alpha leader of the dra´kon, it’s Kit’s duty to capture the fugitive before the secrets of the tribe are revealed to mortals. But not even Kit suspects that the Smoke Thief could be a woman.

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne knew her dangerous exploits would attract the attention of the dra´kon. But she didn’t expect Christoff himself to come to London, dangling the tribe’s most valuable jewel–the Langford Diamond–as bait. For as long as she could remember, Rue had lived the life of a halfling–half dra´kon, half mortal–and an outcast in both worlds. She’d always loved the handsome and willful Kit from the only place it was safe: from afar. But now she was no longer the shy, timid girl she’d once been. She was the first woman capable of making the Turn in four generations. So why did she still feel the same dizzying sense of vulnerability whenever he was near?

From the moment he saw her, Kit knew that the alluring and powerful beauty was every bit his Alpha equal and destined to be his bride. And by the harsh laws of the dra´kon, Rue knew that she was the property of the marquess. But they will risk banishment and worse for a chance at something greater. For now Rue is his prisoner, the diamond has disappeared, and she’s made the kind of dangerous proposition a man like Kit cannot resist....In this bewitching novel, Shana Abé transports us into a world of exhilarating romance and magic.

From the Hardcover edition.(less)

Mass Market Paperback, 324 pages

Published September 26th 2006 by Bantam (first published 2005)

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Sep 23, 2011 The Holy Terror rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of historical romance and/or fantasy and/or dragons

Shelves: dragons, strips, color-green, color-yellow, historical-romantic-fantasy, shifters, historical, surprised-i-didn-t-hate-it, 2010

I wasn't sure how a historical romance with dragon-shifter characters was going to play out; it could have been really cheesy. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The author blended magic, romance, and a historical setting with this cat-and-mouse story seamlessly. I was completely drawn into the world and characters and I can't wait to read more about the drakon now.

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne is a halfling; have Other (human) and half Drakon (dragon). She's an outsider in her comm...more I wasn't sure how a historical romance with dragon-shifter characters was going to play out; it could have been really cheesy. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The author blended magic, romance, and a historical setting with this cat-and-mouse story seamlessly. I was completely drawn into the world and characters and I can't wait to read more about the drakon now.

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne is a halfling; have Other (human) and half Drakon (dragon). She's an outsider in her community and is constantly picked on by the stronger girls. She quietly watches as the alpha-to-be Christoff Langford flirts and chases after all the other girls in the shire, falling in love with him against her better judgment.

Fast forward 9 years and Clarissa has escaped the shire and its strict rules to live among the Others in London. Clarissa is drawn to the jewels and treasures of the wealthy in London, and she stops at nothing to get what she wants.

But when Christoff brings his tribe's own treasure to London to show off to the public, Clarissa fears that she might be recognized and taken back against her will. The only problem is, during the showing someone else takes the gem and Clarissa is forced to help Christoff recover it, all the while fighting off his advances. Clarissa knows he sees women as replaceable and she doesn't want to become one of the many. Christoff has other plans for her though.

Clarissa is a great character. She's independent, head-strong, smart, resourceful, and likable. Christoff is your typical alpha-male, but he knows when to push and when to back off; the man has great timing. I liked how we got to see inside his head a bit to see what he was thinking and feeling.

Both characters were very well-written and their romance was believable. Some might not like the whole fated to be mates thing, but honestly, their romance had started almost 10 years ago so it wasn't as if they had just met. Plus they didn't jump into bed right away and the tension was built up adequately. And the scenes where they finally gave into their urges were really hot.

I thought that giving them two forms - smoke and dragon - was really neat. As a friend pointed out, their smoke form is an ingenious way to camouflage them until they get above the clouds so they can then turn into dragons without people seeing them. It actually is very clever, and also useful to escape out of sticky situations.

I also really liked the character of Zane and I was happy to see that he shows up in the next book. I'm curious to see what happens with him.

I enjoyed this book a lot and I really appreciated the author's way with words. This book has a fairytale quality to it and her writing is magical. When you read the parts when they're smoke or dragons you really get pulled along for the ride.

I don't read a whole lot of historical romance but even if there hadn't been dragon-shifters and magic in this I still probably would have liked it. This really was a great start for this series and I look forward to reading more by this author!(less)

21 likes · like · see review

Feb 07, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007, vamps-and-other-mythical-beasts, hem-steppers-and-bodice-rippers, reviewed, fantasy-sci-fi

A trickster at my local bookstore put this one in the sci-fi/fantasy section instead of the romance section (where the back cover states it clearly), which is how I ended up with it. She had even written a "staff recommendation" for it and oozed praise for how much fun it was. And it had dragons! I love dragons! I may even have a dragon problem stemming early exposure to J.R.R. Tolkien, Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Anne McCaffrey, Beowulf, and Disney's Sleeping Beauty. (I loved that one). Dra...more A trickster at my local bookstore put this one in the sci-fi/fantasy section instead of the romance section (where the back cover states it clearly), which is how I ended up with it. She had even written a "staff recommendation" for it and oozed praise for how much fun it was. And it had dragons! I love dragons! I may even have a dragon problem stemming early exposure to J.R.R. Tolkien, Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Anne McCaffrey, Beowulf, and Disney's Sleeping Beauty. (I loved that one). Dragons have always been creatures manifesting beauty and power and strength and a strange ambition for me. They can destroy us and they can be tamed by us. It's about the strength of heart of the person who must stand against them and their overwhelming talents. Fire breathing, come on, how does an ordinary mortal deal with fire breathing? My favorites were probably the Wrede books as the very clever Princess deals with the dragon with her wits rather than hacking away.

The Smoke Thief was a new spin of the old legend for me. England. Dragons still lurking in the wilderness, seen rarely, and dismissed as legends. Will a medieval knight break out of the undergrowth to do battle? No, not really. Abé has domesticated her creatures, or, in fact, they have domesticated themselves. This proud race of beings have become lessor, diminished, to protect themselves from discovery. Some of their contained strength and animal instincts rise up from time to time but they are only a hint of menace in the eye seen from the outside. Their real viciousness is turned inward, to their own community, protecting itself, and punishing the rule-breakers.

Doesn't that sound like the perfect set up for a strong-willed-and-outcast heroine and Alpha hero to meet, have a few misunderstandings, spend a lot of time naked, and ultimately give in to their animal desires for each other? Yes, well, Abé thought so, too. A lot more could have been done with this plot if the main protagonists weren't always in a state of undress and heaving their chests at each other. But the rest of the plot is adequate. It is almost a fantasy novel and I could look away from the naked bodies (get a room guys) to the dragons battling in the air. For those who want a healthy dose of the standard romance tropes with their dragons, this is the book for them.

Personally, I wonder why no one has done this before (or maybe they have and I just don't hang out in the romance section enough to notice). It seems like a perfect metaphor for the whole relationship struggle that plays out in these romances. One or other of the protagonists is a form of the dragon, to be battled or outwitted, but ultimately tamed, by the other. The dragon is that alien creature of beauty, strength, and power, that this mere mortal seems to crave domination over, to understand the secret name, and control it, without the creature loosing any of its abilities, only using them as the protagonist thinks it should.

I wonder if we should be trying to tame dragons at all? The protagonist of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld has a conversation with the dragon she controls that I reminds me of this question, and why The Smoke Thief doesn't bother to examine it. It's not really its purpose, after all. It does make me want to read Eld again and some of the other books with fabulous dragons and look at how people relate to them and what they are meant to represent. The Smoke Thief is fine as far as it goes; it just doesn't go very far.(less)

26 likes · like · see review

Sep 18, 2010 Katyana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Katyana by: new_user

Shelves: fantasy, girly-books, historical, shapeshifters, series

I really enjoyed this book - basically just chewed through it until it was done. There wasn't much in the way of fleshed-out secondary characters, but I didn't mind. The development of Kit and Rue was so well-done and rounded that I didn't miss a strong secondary cast.

They were really great, complex characters. Rue, desperate to fit in... honestly, I have to wonder if she didn't become such a flamboyant, notorious thief - as they said in the book, the Council knew it HAD to be a dragon - because...more I really enjoyed this book - basically just chewed through it until it was done. There wasn't much in the way of fleshed-out secondary characters, but I didn't mind. The development of Kit and Rue was so well-done and rounded that I didn't miss a strong secondary cast.

They were really great, complex characters. Rue, desperate to fit in... honestly, I have to wonder if she didn't become such a flamboyant, notorious thief - as they said in the book, the Council knew it HAD to be a dragon - because she wanted to draw them to her. Display and revel in her strength, after a miserable, outcast childhood. Everything about her, as an adult woman in London, screamed Alpha - she was practically daring them to come, and had plans in place for when they did.

And then there is Kit, the reluctant leader, oddly jealous of the life of a runner. That sort of wistful component really made him appealing.

I also loved the nuance of dragon myths, and the way they were woven in, like, for example:

- Dragons and their treasures... the way they are utterly captivated by gems (you see that several times, Kit's reaction to the pearls at the masquerade ball; Rue's reaction to the rubies)

- Dragon possessiveness. It is funny, because strong possessive or jealous tendencies usually irritate me, but it was so incredibly in their nature that I loved the play of it here.

The only thing missing, in my not-so-humble opinion, was Kit killing that slimy little Councilman. Seriously, it needs to happen.

As an aside, though (and it isn't really fair to include this as commentary on the book, because the BOOK was great, this is more regarding the series), I am disappointed to see that the next book doesn't pick up from here. There is SO MUCH MORE STORY with these characters. What happens when she returns, how they change the shire. Their struggles with the council. What happens with the runner? What is to be done about the crowd of men that drift around her (and what the heck is up with that, anyway? Creepy!) I don't want to jump a couple decades down the road to their children. Pah! Tell the dang story! (less)

11 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-hero, chick-fantasy, fantasy-rom, favorite-heroine, hist-rom, hist-pnr, romance, shifters, kindle

Very well done! Shana Abe opens her world with a myth about dragons and brings it into the Georgian period. The story revolves around the alpha of the dragon shifting pack known as the Drakon and the woman who would become his mate.

It starts off with them as children. Clarissa is an intense, shy child born of a lower class mother. She is picked on by the supposed alpha female and her pack of meangirls until the day of her eighteenth birthday when she fakes her death and escapes the land of her a...more Very well done! Shana Abe opens her world with a myth about dragons and brings it into the Georgian period. The story revolves around the alpha of the dragon shifting pack known as the Drakon and the woman who would become his mate.

It starts off with them as children. Clarissa is an intense, shy child born of a lower class mother. She is picked on by the supposed alpha female and her pack of meangirls until the day of her eighteenth birthday when she fakes her death and escapes the land of her ancestors for the anonymity of London England.

When it comes to the attention of the Drakon council that one of their own is on the loose and using their shifting powers to steal from the rich, they are shocked. Not so much by the thievery but moreso for the fact that a Drakon has escaped their level eye. Fewer and fewer Drakons are making the transition to shifter and everyone is accounted for- accept for this one. So they send their alpha to bring the rogue shifter home.

When Christoff, Earl and alpha of the Drakons, susses out the even more shocking news- that the defiant shifter is female- he's determined to bring her in and will stop at nothing to get her by his side- now more than ever, it's personal- for this headstrong girl is meant to be his bride.

A historical romance novel,(yes there is sex in this book!), but with a paranormal/fantasy romance heavy hand- I of course couldnt resist it. Cristoff pretty much wants Clarissa from the very beginning altho it took her growing up to finally realize that- and the heroine of course always loved him. What she couldnt handle however, was the pack that comes along with him- which of course sets up the major conflict in the story. It takes them working together to catch another thief to work it all out.

Fantastic heroine and I love the dragon shifter theme, so yes I do recommend The Smoke Thief for those who like shifters and magic mixed with their romance. I've read so many mixed reviews on the sequels I'm a little wary about moving on to the next but I will try it for sure!(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Sep 23, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, take-flight, character-woman-in-pants, genre-romance-historical, rt-historical-of-the-year-award, reviewed-by-me, character-blonde-hero, genre-shapeshifters, genre-romance-georgian, vocation-thief, authors-s, authors-a, zzcover-green, challenge-disney-princess-reading

I have a shelf on GoodReads entitled “take-flight” that I use for all sort of things: airplane pilots, angels, dragons. Or in this case, drákon . These mythical breasts are beautifully, if fiercely, portrayed in Ms. Abe’s book. I love the descriptions of they flights.

It felt…exhilarating. Even with him there, it felt like liberty, like she need never touch the ground again.

The sun began to set and the entire sky kindled to flame, suspending them in wild pink and cherry and orange, colors so bur

...more

It felt…exhilarating. Even with him there, it felt like liberty, like she need never touch the ground again.

The sun began to set and the entire sky kindled to flame, suspending them in wild pink and cherry and orange, colors so burning and luminous they almost hurt to behold. Every stroke of her wings shifted hues, deepening the heavens, and when the first of the stars sparked overhead – a bouquet of them all at once – all that was left of the day was a band of intense maroon melting like hot sand into the edge of the world.

At times the author’s descriptions reminded me of an old fashioned movie; back when the camera spent time on a scene so we can absorb the surroundings – or the ambience – if you will. Ms. Abe does the same thing; describing the birds’ or monkeys’ reactions to the dragons’ presence, or the intricate description of masquerade costumes. She takes her time on a passage, which is quite alright with me, even if I was a little impatient to move the story along, I finally just enjoyed the lyrical prose of her writing.

I was confused a bit during the prologue and the first chapter, but that is not unusual for me with regards to the fantasy genre. I caught on quick enough by chapter two. Dragons are irresistibly drawn to gemstones. They can smell them, feel them, breathe them. They can change - or “shape-shift” - from human, to smoke, to dragon. Cool.

There was a point at which I was so incredibly glad Rue had escaped the beastly tribe at Darkfrith that I started having my own little fantasy that Kit would not be her love interest. Then, about the time Ms. Abe started writing about that scribe in the council room, I actually flipped to re-read the back-of-the-book-synopsis to check, “Could it be someone else? Please!” There was no way that Kit would ever redeem himself.

I didn’t blame Rue, who is half human, for fighting her fate. Who wants to be in a relationship involving unrequited love? Especially if you’re not the one loved!

About here I need to tell my friend, Faithmarie, not to worry. Rue gets her happily ever after. After all, it did get Romantic Times Historical Romance of the Year 2005. And it’s an enjoyable flight of fantasy until she gets it.
(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2010 Wicked Incognito Now rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Wicked Incognito Now by: Shannon Doerfler

Stupid book!! I couldn't put it down all day!!

I loved the emotional intensity, the magical quality of the descriptions, the love story....

Even though the love story is grounded in a fated mate situation, I still bought the love these two feel for each other. Even though Kit steamrolls over Rue, I was still completely enthralled by their situation and their love for each other.

Fantastic!

7 likes · like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, favorites, favorite-series, read-more-than-once

Re-reading while a friend is reading it for the first time. I LOVE this series!

NOTE: this is an edit/update. I have read four of the five books in this series now as well as some reviews of them. If someone is contemplating reading these, I'd like to clarify a couple of things based on criticism in some reviews. This is a series about Dragons, not about humans. The Drakon are dragons who shape-shift into humans and not humans who shape shift into dragons. There is a BIG difference. They live liv...more Re-reading while a friend is reading it for the first time. I LOVE this series!

NOTE: this is an edit/update. I have read four of the five books in this series now as well as some reviews of them. If someone is contemplating reading these, I'd like to clarify a couple of things based on criticism in some reviews. This is a series about Dragons, not about humans. The Drakon are dragons who shape-shift into humans and not humans who shape shift into dragons. There is a BIG difference. They live lives as humans and only fly in secret, but that does not make them human. They are actually more like a wolf pack in that the alpha is supreme and his mate/wife must be an alpha. This is how the tribe endures - the strongest and the most gifted (drakon can inherit different gifts and the gift of shape-shifting does is not always present) being the leaders. Other than the alpha pair, the drakon fall in love, marry, and live very much as we do. But survival of the tribe is above all in importance because without it they all will die. Is the alpha a dominant male - yes, he has to be. He is a dragon. Can he love - of course he can...and does.

______

This book was exactly what I needed last week - a book to whisk me away into another world and of course a book to keep me up until the wee small hours of the morning. I love a good supernatural story with romance, intrigue, action and that very special thing - beautiful writing.

I found the prologue of this book very intriguing but a little confusing. Later I realized that I did not have to completely understand it as the picture would unfold as the story went along. This is a story about supernaturals living among humans, but it is so different than many of the others that there almost is no comparison. The Drakon have lived for centuries in Northern England in total secret with their ability to shape-shift back and forth from human to dragon. The drakon are attracted to and derive power from gems and live where the land is rich in them. No one of the drakon is allowed to escape from Darkfrith, Durham and the penalty for "running" is death.

There are some werewolf story similarities throughout this story as the drakon are considered a tribe and there is the concept of the alpha. In Smoke Thief, the alpha is Christoff Rene' Ellery Langford, Earl of Chasen, known to his friends and family as Kit. The "runner",.... well you need to read the book!

I really don't want to give spoilers here as I had no idea what the book was about and the discovery was part of the fun of the read. The heroine in the story is enterprising, clever, determined, and very competent. Kit is as I said, alpha. At times I thought to myself that those who like to criticize the relationships between man and woman in books may not like some of Kit's demanding ways. If so, I think they need to read carefully where Kit very deliberately explains, "that is what we are, that is what I am". These are not humans, they are drakons.

I can't over emphasize too much that a lot of what makes this such a good read is the writing. The beauty of this writer's descriptions of the dragons' flight, the smoke element which I am not going to spoil here are just far above the ordinary. The romance is HOT and this is not YA. Although I did not find it over the top graphic, there is quite a bit of sex. It starts out when Kit is 16 but most of the book takes place much later, and most of it is set in London.

Did I say this already - love the descriptions of the shape-shifting, the flight, the scenery, the night - beautiful. And I LOVE THE COVER! I've ordered book#2(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 21, 2010 Cynthia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: top-100-da

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
A collaborative review by Cynical-Bitter-Me (CM) and Fantasy-Lovin'-10-year-old-Me (FM) with **spoilers**:

FM: It was so cool how Rue and Christoff could Turn to DRAGONS. And SMOKE. And fly with each other. And both be Alphas.

CM: First of all, Christoff is a girly name. Secondly, didn't it seem just a bit too much? Them both being so powerful and beautiful and oh so perfect? The prologue tries to set it up all mystical and god-like, but it was way too over the top.

FM: And it was so wonderful how...more
A collaborative review by Cynical-Bitter-Me (CM) and Fantasy-Lovin'-10-year-old-Me (FM) with **spoilers**:

FM: It was so cool how Rue and Christoff could Turn to DRAGONS. And SMOKE. And fly with each other. And both be Alphas.

CM: First of all, Christoff is a girly name. Secondly, didn't it seem just a bit too much? Them both being so powerful and beautiful and oh so perfect? The prologue tries to set it up all mystical and god-like, but it was way too over the top.

FM: And it was so wonderful how protective Zane was after Rue has saved him. And jewel thieving! Lots of pretty balls! Hyenas and monkeys and crocs, oh my! And the disapproving council was so stern!

CM: But it was all so desultory. It just didn't flow well at all. Not much depth was given to any part of the plot. It was a jack of all trades, master of none. It skipped exploring details that could have given us a much richer story (e.g. the Turn, Rue's transformation/climb to success in London, how they would change the drakon ways). And the council was so 1-D. They weren't even that much of a threat since Christoff could just smash his fist down, pee all over the place, and assert his dominance.

FM: Christoff was so sweet to Rue. He loved her so much! And noticed her when she was a kid. And waited for her all these years! And Rue was such a fiercely independent gal. She could hold her own so well. And it was rewarding watching them finally find a balanced relationship. They're such an epic couple and just made for each other.

CM: Christoff's gorgeous Alpha who wants a mate. Boooring. Rue does keep the conflict alive and kicking, but her protests weren't that shocking. I've seen it before.

FM: But this book was engaging and fun to read. And I know you're going to devour the next in the series as soon as you can get your hands on it.

CM: Maaaybe...

All that being said, I did like the novelty this book brought. It was pretty full on a mix of the fantasy and romance genres. Probably more a romance actually. Which is different than the very cool cover and intriguing title would have you believe.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 26, 2011 Jeanine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-can-t-live-without

First I have to say that I usually do not read anything dubbed "Historical" anything. If it weren't for my friend Terry (literally since she sent me both The Smoke Thief and The Dream Thief) I wouldnt have started this series at all. I am SO happy that I did!
This book was excellent, so much so that I am having a hard time dealing with the norms (I.E. laundry, cooking, cleaning, ect...) because I'd much rather dive into the second book :)
Thank you again, Terry, for recommeding yet another aweso...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) by: Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) Martin

Shelves: adult, own-it, general-fantasy, historical-setting, reading-lark, dragon-lore, epic-love, hardcover

My review can also be found on Reading Lark After Dark: http://readinglarkafterdark.blogspot....

4.5 stars

The Smoke Thief was a truly magical and wonderful read! Even though this is considered an historical romance novel (and man... is there romance...), I think the argument could be made that it could also be labelled more of a FANTASY romance (did I mention there is romance?...oh yes, I did... silly me.)

You see, even though the story is set in the 1700's, the fantastical element is very centra...more
My review can also be found on Reading Lark After Dark: http://readinglarkafterdark.blogspot....

4.5 stars

The Smoke Thief was a truly magical and wonderful read! Even though this is considered an historical romance novel (and man... is there romance...), I think the argument could be made that it could also be labelled more of a FANTASY romance (did I mention there is romance?...oh yes, I did... silly me.)

You see, even though the story is set in the 1700's, the fantastical element is very central to the plot as it is about a mythical race of creatures known as the Drakon who live high up in the misty hills of Northern England; creatures who can shapeshift between human form, smoke and that of a dragon. The Drakon lead a secretive and somewhat isolated life from the outside world. They have all semblances of melting into the human world, but within their own Drakon community, they are similar to a wolf-pack with an alpha male who ensures the strength and survival of their "tribe" through unchallenged leadership.

The Marquess, Christoff Rene Ellery Langford (aka Kit) is the alpha of his Drakon tribe, a position he inherited, somewhat reluctantly, from his father. A bit of a playboy in his time, he does take the sanctity of his tribe very seriously. It is imperative that they keep their true selves secret from the "Others" (mortals) for fear of persecution and exploitation of themselves and their precious stones... true gems of the earth (such as diamonds) that are the very life force for the Drakon... they cannot survive without them.

As the story begins, the tribe takes notice of a series of thefts of some precious gems -- particularly because the press has dubbed the perpetrator, "The Smoke Thief", as the thief appears to just vanish or walk through walls. They suspect that the thief is one of their own... a runner... one who has escaped the tribe to live amongst the Others. Runners are the very crack in the Drakon's armour of protection... because if their secret becomes known, from past experience, they would no longer be safe. And so, for obvious reasons, the council needs to find the careless Smoke Thief before their secret is discovered.

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne is one of those runners, unbeknownst to the tribe, who believe she died when she was 17 by accidental drowning. But it was Rue who faked her own death in order to avoid being wed to the alpha of the tribe, Kit, because she was the first female to complete the "Turn" in four generations, which would make her the prized possession of the tribe and the alpha. To further complicate this, Rue has adored Kit from afar ever since she was a young girl. But it goes against her very nature to enter into a marriage where she is not loved in return.

In order to secure the runner, The Smoke Thief, and bring "him" back to answer for their crimes against the tribe, Kit and his council set a trap... because one thing that the Drakon, including Rue, cannot resist is the lure of especially precious stones, such as the Herte diamond.

I adored the two main characters, Rue and Kit. She was a heroine that quickly became a favourite of mine. She was tenacious yet kind-hearted. She was confident in all her convictions yet vulnerable... especially where Kit was concerned. Her sense of self-respect was very appreciated and I admired it. Kit, despite being in the difficult position of being the alpha, and having to make some rather unpopular and seemingly selfish choices... was a wonderful hero. His protectiveness of Rue was perfectly balanced with who he was. We are not talking about a 21st century hero. We are talking about an alpha male leading a tribe, in the 1700's, where women's voices were seldom heard... yet he hears Rue loud and clear. And they each cannot deny the literal sparks that fly between them. The romance builds and builds and builds till... well... you'll just have to read it to find out... but I will say that the love that grew between them was believable and beautiful. Shana Abe can write a truly erotic love scene without it sounding dirty.

I also adored Zane... the "street urchin" who Rue took in long before she became tangled with the tribe again. Her "surrogate son" played an integral role in this story, and I understand he will have a greater role in the sequel.

The Smoke Thief had a wonderful blend of romance, intrigue and mystery in an 18th century setting. The story begins with a bit of history on the Drakon and how they evolved to the point where the real story begins. I have to admit that it took some getting used to Shana Abe's writing style, but once I found my groove, I was irrevocably caught up in the tale. I'm really looking forward to The Dream Thief!
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Jan 20, 2010 Nisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, historicalromance, adventure

I liked the shape-shifting. I even get dreams about it. but then they're naked... Anyway, a good read. I did not expect that, from a dragon-shapeshifting book. Not my favorite hero, but he had a lot on his plate.
-------The real review--------------
While I enjoyed reading this book and even continued to read the next book, I didn't like the H/H. Then again, I read this when I was not so into paranormal romances and picked it up thinking it was YA. big surprise.

Rue was kinda whiny, despite being i...more

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Dec 18, 2008 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Laurie by: Racheal Routt

Shelves: favorite-books-of-2008, favorites

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. In fact when my friend handed it to me I honestly didn’t know what genre it was. She usually gives me stuff that's YA... this book however is DEFINITELY not YA. *wink* I thought it was a really fun read. The plot and characters are very well developed. The author has a beautiful way of writing; not over detailed but exquisite to read. And the Alpha male…. WHOA… All hail alpha! So far my favorite in the series.

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Mar 31, 2013 Purplepaperreader rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-romance, paranormal-romance

hmmm, just didn't get this one. Based on the first 1/3 of the book I thought I would really like it. I understand that in any type of romance there is some conflict that the hero and heroine must overcome for their love to bloom - common plot device, right? Sure, got it. Now, one of the forms this conflict can take is a big, blustery alpha male who tries to steam role over our heroine and bend her to his will until he realizes that his love is more powerful than his desires and he capitulates to...more

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Sep 25, 2011 CaroB rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to CaroB by: Lisa Kay

Once in while there'll come a book that I enjoyed reading so much, I know I will re-read in the future. Sometimes, when that book is part of a series, I’ll want to read the next story ASAP, so that I can revisit some of the characters and immerse myself in the world of the story once again. This has been the case with The Smoke Thief by Shana Abé.

I have never read about shape-shifting dragons before and had viewed this book as yet another paranormal romance (PNR), only substituting vampires for...more Once in while there'll come a book that I enjoyed reading so much, I know I will re-read in the future. Sometimes, when that book is part of a series, I’ll want to read the next story ASAP, so that I can revisit some of the characters and immerse myself in the world of the story once again. This has been the case with The Smoke Thief by Shana Abé.

I have never read about shape-shifting dragons before and had viewed this book as yet another paranormal romance (PNR), only substituting vampires for dragons. Having been in a bit of a PNR rut recently, I would probably have let this book languish on my TBR shelf for another few months but for a friend here on Goodreads suggesting a buddy-read. (Thanks hun!)

The writing style brings a more fantasy than PNR feel to the story, with the prose being exceptionally well written. The descriptions enhanced the story, rather than distracting me from it, and a few times I would find myself clearly able to visualise a fall of eyelashes against a cheek, the way a certain puff of smoke trailed in the air, or the look of clouds above a city. The prologue, though long, introduced us to the legend and history of the drákon species, and how they’ve adapted to the encroachment of humans.

The two main characters, Kit and Rue, enchanted me. Both strong, both stubborn, their attraction is real even as their goals are completely different. I enjoyed the power-struggle between them, the dialogue was punchy and witty, and the pace never lagged. I trusted in Rue’s strength of purpose and self, and I was charmed by Kit’s outbursts of emotion. I loved their imperfections, ultimately feeling that they balanced and complemented each other, perfectly.

The world-building was fantastic to me, and the author has a gift of implying rather than telling, trusting the reader to work out what is happening. I liked that it made me think; it fired up my creativity, even where there were moments I had to re-read a page or two for clarification. So often these days we read a book that is simple and entertaining, without truly engaging our imagination. I understand that may not be for everyone, and I feel someone who wants a simple read would not enjoy this. I had read some truly atrocious reviews of this book before reading the book itself, and was surprised at how misinterpreted it, and the protagonists, seems to be. I admired the way the author has set up an Alpha female in 18th Century London, without the political-correctness by-play that usually seems to accompany these anomalies in historical settings.

For me, this book is a firm 4 and a ½ stars. What stopped it being the full 5 stars was the annoying way the nicknames and full names were constantly interchanged (distracting!) and there were a few loose ends: the reason Rue was a thief was never truly explained, the hopes of changing Darkfrith for the better, of educating the other drákon was offered at the end, almost abruptly, and I would have liked that explored a bit further so I could feel there truly would be a Happily-Ever-After.
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Jan 09, 2011 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: nookbooks, paranormal-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 16, 2009 Alison rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one. Seriously.

Recommended to Alison by: Sirin

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2010 Brenda (b) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, romance, 1-ebooks, 2-2010-read, shifters, historical

Oh I really liked this one! I thought it was an excellent introduction to the series. I appreciated the race's history given in the prologue. The Drakon were a very unique people and I found it interesting that they referred to normal people as Others. This wasn't a soppy, mushy love story. I thought the focus was more on the test of wills between Christoff and Rue and Rue's realization of the inevitable. I felt the few sex scenes were fairly mild, there were no explicit details given. I had exp...more

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Feb 03, 2013 James Theo rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who just want to read about sex

This book sounds pretty good doesn't it. Georgette Heyer... plus dragons! Well, it isn't good. Lets make a list shall we?
1) The relationship between the two characters in this book is disturbingly unhealthy. Their attraction to each other seems to be 95% physical and 5% everything else. If you are looking for a book with a lot of mindless sex, including some which borders on rape, great, read on, otherwise... well, don't.
2) Granted, the dragons in this book are pretty cool, but the descriptions...more

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Mar 26, 2012 VaultOfBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

As usual, I was going through hundreds of online lists of best romance novels in search of a book I hadn’t read already when I saw Shana Abe’s name mentioned a couple of times. I checked out the cover and the blurb and passed it on because I am not much into paranormal/fantasy. However, a few days later, I came across a book sale and saw The Smoke Thief being offered for a very cheap price. This time, I did not pass it on.

For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and m...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Ajnadenver rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: meh

Just to get this off my chest: When you have a premise involving people who can turn into smoke and travel through the atmosphere, and yet you're entire story is built around the capture and containment of said people (including a whole village/society out in the woods), you have to ask yourself if you've bitten off more than you can chew. Abe did a fairly decent job of making this occasionally realistic, but really? Things like an entire house that is completely sealed shut? That's not very cre...more Just to get this off my chest: When you have a premise involving people who can turn into smoke and travel through the atmosphere, and yet you're entire story is built around the capture and containment of said people (including a whole village/society out in the woods), you have to ask yourself if you've bitten off more than you can chew. Abe did a fairly decent job of making this occasionally realistic, but really? Things like an entire house that is completely sealed shut? That's not very credible, and an obvious cop out. Also, dare I say, the concept itself is not very sexy - clouds of smoke? Meh. Just not my thing, but I understand if you find it hot to look up into the atmosphere and identify the smudge that is your boyfriend.

Another side note: I really, really hate plot devices that involve ostracized, unwanted, unattractive girls who end up "blooming" into fantastically beautiful creatures. really?? 'Nuff said.

The main problem that just tanked this book for me is that the author left a huge hole in the development of the feelings Rue and Kit had for each other. When I read a romance I can forgive a lot of just total bullcrap and actually expect things to be on the far side of realism, but the reason I'm reading romance and not fantasy is because my primary focus is on the relationship. Rue was awesome and very likeable, a rarity in the romance genre (shout out for that!). She knew what she wanted out of life, and was very powerful and rare, i.e., VALUABLE. She had a lot to bargain with and a lot going for her. Kit was the head dude of a place she NEVER wanted to see again, not exactly a plus on his side. And he was kind of a jerk, nothing much going for him that I could tell. She crushed hard growing up but then moved to London and started milling around with some of the most powerful and wealthy people in Western civilization at the time. So besides her, "Wow, you're physically devastating and I want to do you," I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he would appeal to her. And that caused almost every decision and sacrifice she made in order to stay by his side almost repulsive, and I don't use that word lightly. By the time the book was over I just couldn't even bring myself to care anymore and held in just to see how far off the emotional cliff she would jump.

However, there was a moment of extreme hawtness that blew my socks off - and that involved the aerial dragon twining. Well played on that score, Abe. Well played.(less)

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Oct 09, 2011 Caity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-had-higher-expectations

3.5 stars.
The protagonist, Rue, is the only female drakon to have completed the turn in her tribe of dragons. Unfortunately, her being a half-breed led her to be among the outcasts of her people and eventually run away from her fellow drakon before anyone could find out what she was...
Its years later when the novel begins, and Rue is a master thief living in London. Kit, the alpha leader of the drakon, is hunting to find her...
It was an interesting story and i really liked the background info on...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Amanda Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

"I've wanted you from the moment I first saw you in the museum. Before that. I wanted every part of you from the first time I felt you, your presence. I want you in the sky, and against the earth. I want to kiss you again, I want to touch you, I want to feel you in my arms and I want to hear you gasping my name when I'm inside you. I want all that, and I want it badly. Every time I look at you, I want it. So you're going to have to become used to that, Rue. It won't change."

Redonk Nutshell: Shap...more "I've wanted you from the moment I first saw you in the museum. Before that. I wanted every part of you from the first time I felt you, your presence. I want you in the sky, and against the earth. I want to kiss you again, I want to touch you, I want to feel you in my arms and I want to hear you gasping my name when I'm inside you. I want all that, and I want it badly. Every time I look at you, I want it. So you're going to have to become used to that, Rue. It won't change."

Redonk Nutshell: Shape shifter woman/dragon fights to keep her independence from her people and, ultimately, her destined mate

This book has many things going for it:

Dragons
historical/fantasy/romance...all in one!!
entrancing world building
kick-ass heroine
smokin' romance
beautiful writing
The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe is one of those rare romance finds that is not only incredibly encompassing, but also skillfully written. From page one I was engrossed in this book. I was fascinated with the mythology and history, and when the characters came along, the plot literally thickened. I fell in love with this book.
Clarissa Rue Hawthorne did the impossible as a kid - she left her tribe of the dra´kon through staging her death. As an adult, she established herself within regency London, supporting her lifestyle by stealing jewels and trinkets. She's a rarity, a female dra'kon that can successfully shift to smoke (and beyond). When the famed Langford Diamond comes to London, Rue knows it's likely a trap - the dra'kon are on to her presence as a thief. But it's a prize she can't resist, and before long, the tribe's alpha, Christoff, tracks her down. As the alpha, Christoff is shocked to finally, FINALLY find a female that can actually shift. He immediately wants to claim her, but he doesn't count on Rue having other ideas. Thus, the two of them face off throughout the novel, eventually teaming up to track down the stolen diamond.
Abe is a wonderfully talented writer. She weaves an enchanting spell with multifaceted characters that are impossible not to become invested with. Rue and Christoff are quite the pair, both equally stubborn yet well matched.
And frankly, who doesn't love a good dragon story?
Sensual, enigmatic, and magical, The Smoke Thief is a fantastic romantic read.
The Smoke Thief, by Shana Abe
Rating: A
Romance: 4/5 Raunch: 3.5/5(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, historical

An original idea (I've never read anything starring dragons who shapeshift into humans before, though it might exist, but regardless, I'm pretty sure no one's ever put those shapeshifters in 1700s London before). From the introduction, the story felt epic and beautiful, like poetry - if not epic in length, then epic in depth.

The world, as well as the prose, carried me through the parts that I might not have otherwise enjoyed. The fact that the characters were dragons and had a different set of...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a beautifully written and captivating book, but don't be fooled by the reviews that say this book crosses genres. This book is a romance. There are some fantasy elements, but this book is without a doubt a romance.

The books starts in one of the lost cities of the drakon where we meet an outcast half-breed named Clarissa and the marquess Christoff. The book then jumps 15 years later to deal with a young lady named Rue who is the Smoke Thief. The prologue is amazing, the rest of the book...more This was a beautifully written and captivating book, but don't be fooled by the reviews that say this book crosses genres. This book is a romance. There are some fantasy elements, but this book is without a doubt a romance.

The books starts in one of the lost cities of the drakon where we meet an outcast half-breed named Clarissa and the marquess Christoff. The book then jumps 15 years later to deal with a young lady named Rue who is the Smoke Thief. The prologue is amazing, the rest of the book is just your standard romance.

Much to my disappointment minimal time is spent on the Smoke Thief's antics. Almost immediately Christoff enters the picture and begins to woo Rue. Here starts your very typical romance type of plot. Rue is willful, Christoff loves her but is too overbearing and controlling, Rue struggles with her attraction to Christoff. I won't spoil the outcome but if you know the typical outcome of an alpha male type romance then you already know this story.

Despite the above complaint it is a very well-written story. It is a beautiful love story. There is some action but I found the action scenes to be far and few; this may have been a blessing in disguise because action scenes do not seem to be the author's strong point. Abe is very adept at writing about lush surroundings and beautiful descriptions. Her love scenes are magically written and well done. If you like Victorian style romances this is definitely the book for you.

Overall I liked the story and it was a quick read. I was pulled right through it from beginning to end. I guess I just felt a bit misled from what I have heard about this being a magical fantasy novel. There is a touch of that but it does not by any means dominate the love story. I'll repeat one more time, this is a romance...a beautifully written and lush romance.

I have the second book from this author which is called The Dream Thief. It looks like this second book deals with some of the side characters from the first. I am still looking forward to reading it but I don't know that I will read many of the books beyond this one. (less)

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Dec 08, 2010 Vasya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The title, the cover and the synopsis are the things that attracted me to this book, not to mention that I have read Firelight by Sophie Jordan recently and it had a similar theme of people-dragons. I loved the idea from the very beginning, and since I am a hardcore fantasy fan (at least that's how I picture myself) and an avid reader of YA paranormal romance, the mixes between are all that my heart might want.

The prologue is a bit confusing, because the writing was a bit elaborate, with fancy...more The title, the cover and the synopsis are the things that attracted me to this book, not to mention that I have read Firelight by Sophie Jordan recently and it had a similar theme of people-dragons. I loved the idea from the very beginning, and since I am a hardcore fantasy fan (at least that's how I picture myself) and an avid reader of YA paranormal romance, the mixes between are all that my heart might want.

The prologue is a bit confusing, because the writing was a bit elaborate, with fancy curls and twists in the sentences, so it discouraged me a little in the beginning, but not much.

I expected a bit more of this book, especially concerning the romance in it. It doesn't feel complete, or, to explain it a bit better, it is something that I would expect of teenagers. If Rue was 16 and Kit 22, then maybe the kind of behavior they showed as adults would be possible, but given that they're older, and that they've lead their own lives separately and been on their own, they just seem incomplete in their personalities.

Rue is a thief, but the moment Kit enters the scene and they see each other, she is subdued. He is the dominant part of their whole relationship, but there is nothing that indicates the life she has spent as a resourceful and cunning woman. I mean, she escaped their land, she hid for so long, she was successful in her business and she defied the council, practically daring them right in front of their noses, but I don't see anything of that character in the person who was represented as Rue when she is met with Cristoff. He leads, and she follows, and even though there were a few situations that are supposed to reveal Rue as a fierce woman, they don't hold enough conviction behind them because they're either too short, or the writing with which it was meant to be announced was off.

When looked at from Cristoff/Kit's point of view, he's all that there is to be to a male character - fierce, good-looking, protective, responsible, passionate and desperate for the main heroine. But the last one is not so easily interpreted. He sees her as a young boy, is intrigued by her, but then calls her names and basically slaps her across the face with his behavior - which is typical for a young boy in love. But then, when she so mysteriously "dies" he doesn't even remember who she was, and when they meet finally, there is fierce reaction to her - but just because she's an Alpha too. There is no depth to his emotions, there is just protectiveness that comes from his being part dragon, not any emotion can be discerned when it comes to Cristoff the man. His sexual reaction toward her is the only indicator that there is something, otherwise there is only nonsense about protecting her - even though it can be hot sometimes, that fierce protectiveness, we are still reading about humans and human emotions, not animals.

I loved the storyline immensely. i am a bit sad that there were not any more thefts because the first one was quite extraordinary, but the storyline flowed well, although the culmination could have been with a bit more fireworks in it. (less)

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Sep 02, 2010 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: uf-pnr

I like historical romance and I like paranormal romance, but I’m not really a big fan of dragons. That being said, I thought I’d give this book a go and I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed it.

I really liked the concept of dragon shape shifters who can take on three different forms - human, smoke and dragon - and I liked that all three forms came into play during the story. There’re some books that give their characters a lot of cool abilities that they never seem to use, which I find quite...more

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Jul 25, 2010 Debby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, fantasy

The Carpathian Mountains are the home of many fantastical creatures. The latest breed are the drákon, humans who can transform into smoke and dragons. Driven from the mountains, the tribe now (1700’s) resides mostly in seclusion in rural Darkfrith, England. The Alpha of the tribe is the Marquess of Langford and he rules the tribe with a council. Christoff Langford is the current Marquess, and he has a problem. There’s a jewel thief currently burglarizing the “ton” of London and they’ve dubbed hi...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Indiscriminate Fans of Paranormal Romance Who Don't Mind A Crud Romance Aisle Style

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ulimate Reading List

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, romance, ultimate-reading-list, fiction, novels

It started off with a rather inert telly prologue that nevertheless had a cool premise--this novel is a mixture of historical (Georgian England) and paranormal (shape-shifters into dragons) romance, and does have some imaginative elements. The titular heroine, Rue, is a jewel thief. Unfortunately the focus isn't on any of those aspects, but the "romance" which features the a-hole "alpha," Kit, of the shape-shifting dragon "tribe" who, since the heroine is his destined "mate," sees nothing wrong...more

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Apr 21, 2010 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars

The Smoke Thief. Shana Abe. 2005. Bantam Dell. 324 pages. ISBN 0553588044.

This was definitely my last attempt at a Shana Abe novel.

The Smoke Thief takes place in historical England during the 1700s and is about a breed of fantasy people that are half-human, half-dragon. A rogue dragon-woman named Rue Hawthorne steals valuable jewels for fun and eventually teams up with Christoff, a Marquess who is also part-dragon. Together they take steps to find a diamond that has gone missing in order to keep...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Lizz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book due to the fact that it was recommended to me after reading the Dragonkin series by G.A. Aiken. And I have to say, I was NOT disappointed.

This series combines two of my favorite things... historical romance... and dragons. Yes, that's right, I said dragons!

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne is a half-blooded drakon who doesn't fit in in the elite world that the drakon live. So, when she finds out that she has the power to Turn, she fakes her own death in order to run from what she kno...more

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About Shana Abe

Shana Abé was born in Texas. She spent much of her childhood living in Colorado, with a brief stint in Mexico as a foreign exchange student, and, at age seventeen, lived in Japan as a model. Throughout her childhood, Abé wrote, completing what she calls "The Silliest Romance Novel Ever" during her free time during modeling shoots. Her writing focused on romance, as those were the types of books th...more

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Quotes from The Smoke Thief

“I've wanted you from the moment I first saw you in the museum. Before that. I wanted every part of you from the first time I felt you, your presence. I want you in the sky, and against the earth. I want to kiss you again, I want to touch you, I want to feel you in my arms and I want to hear you gasping my name when I'm inside you. I want all that, and I want it badly. Every time I look at you, I want it. So you're going to have to become used to that, Rue. It won't change."
(Christoff to Rue)” — 73 people liked it

“All that effort,” he mused, “merely to avoid me. How gratifying.” — 26 people liked it

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The Smoke Thief (Drakon #1)

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