Playing with Fire

Slayers #3

by C.J. Hill

Having superpowers is overrated. It requires Tori to go to way more team practices than can comfortably fit into a normal teenager’s schedule. Being a dragon slayer has other drawbacks too—like fighting dragons and keeping one step ahead of power-hungry dragon lords, all without blowing her cover.

Tori Hampton is a presidential candidate’s daughter, which means she not only has a public reputation to maintain, she also has a humorless bodyguard to ditch every time she needs to go on a mission.

And Dr. B has plenty of missions for the Slayers. When he discovers that someone is selling dragon scales on the black market, he’s convinced the seller can give him the dragons’ location. A surprise strike could turn the tide in the Slayers favor, but when they track down the seller, they find more than they’ve bargained for.

Suddenly, strategies need to change, alliances shift, and Tori finds herself caught in the precarious middle.

Jesse, the captain of the other Slayers team, is everything she wants, but then there’s Dirk, the dragon lord’s son—who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend. He’s determined to convince her that she should love dragons, and love him too. The fact that he and his father plan to overthrow the government? Details not worth arguing about.

Tori believes she can turn Dirk around and convince him to rejoin the Slayers, but he’s just as convinced that she should leave the Slayers and become a dragon lord.

Dirk can teach Tori how to control dragons, and it’s a skill she desperately wants. It could make all of the difference in a battle. It could save her friends’ lives. When Dirk offers to let her ride a dragon, she knows that meeting him is like playing with fire.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dragons, Romance, High School, Adventure, Teen

366 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2016

About the author

C.J. Hill is the pseudonym for a popular young adult author who makes her fantasy debut with Slayers.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wait. So you said that you cheated on your boyfriend “just to save your country”?

OK. Righttttttt.


And right after her boyfriend comforted her when she was upset about something.

And when the scene happened, she was thinking that she enjoyed it, so it pisses me off more that she’s making excuses now.

I literally can’t.

And then she chose not to tell her boyfriend.

And then she did, and he was rightfully pissed while she was trying to sound all patriotic, like “ I kissed him to get knowledge that will save you and our country.” Only she didn’t even really get that knowledge. And she enjoyed the kiss, and tried to sound like she didn’t? And OK girl, you did not NEED to kiss that guy just to get this information. Completely unnecessary. That wasn’t your job – you’re not a spy, not a seducer. You CHOSE to seduce that guy. He wasn’t threatening her or blackmailing her. She chose to do it. So many choices in the world, and she chose that. Ugh.

And when he got mad at her and said he couldn’t trust her, she was mad at him for not looking at her side of things.

I can’t. Just can’t.

I’m not the type of person to stop a series after a third book, but the girl, besides the cheating aspect, doesn’t have enough redeemable qualities – being neither relatable nor admirable – for me to continue. The plot was OK, and I do quite like the side characters, like Bess, Willow, Ryker, Shang, and even Lily (hated her before, but she showed another side of her in this book). And of course, there's Jesse (who’s sweet and understanding and doesn’t deserve to be cheated on).

I even feel for Dirk, “the other guy,” and he has a complex background. I hate that he helps his evil dad out, but he has a compassionate heart.

But Tori was always kinda lukewarm to me. Now, I’m just pissed because she made poor decisions and made even weaker excuses. I like flawed characters and can appreciate a character who grows from mistakes, but this is just… silly. I can’t.

1 star

Anyway, I really do love this author's other works, and I think I will stick to the more non-extreme-YA area (particularly My Fair Godmother series, which I adore)

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending? No, cliffhanger.
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Yes, yes, medium-high.
Tears-worthy? No.
Humor? No.
What age level would be appropriate? Nothing too inappropriate.

[Aimee (Getting Your Read On) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get back into the Slayers groove with this book. It's been so long since the last book came out that I had a hard time remembering some things. I guess that's what happens when you read over a hundred books a year. But, once I settled in and began to remember what happened in the last books I was all involved and engaged. This Slayers series is a fun one. It's full of all the good stuff. Dragons, friends, traitors, relationships, action, suspense and super powers! I sure hope I don't have to wait so long for the last book. This book ended in a very "dangle me over the edge of the cliff" way and I may have been just a titch annoyed by that. I'm ready for the final book. The fantastic, epic battle of all battles and then, resolution.

Content: Clean!

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really different genre for me, as I mostly read historical romances, clean romances, etc. This book is the first I've read in this series, but I did enjoy reading it. Luckily the author put a link to a synopsis of the first two books in this one so I knew the background before starting this one. There are quite a few characters but I wasn't lost at all.
I found Tori to be a little bit maddening because she's trying to please both sides and not hurt anyone. I understand why she's like she is--she's part Slayer, part Dragon Lord. She still cares about Dirk even though he's a Dragon Lord in training, but she doesn't want her Slayer friends to be hurt by him and his power-crazed father, Overdrake. With everything that's happening I don't see how she can keep her secret from her family too much longer.
The ending took me by surprise--I thought I had a few more pages to go. Being slightly anal retentive I have to read the next book to find out how it all ends. Impatiently waiting for the conclusion.

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint about this book was that it didn't write itself. I kept hoping that, like in the story of The Shoemaker and the Elves, I would wake up in the morning and find it magically done. But no. I actually had to sit down at the computer and type. Where are those &*@#% elves when you need them?

Maybe they're working on book four ...

[Tiana]

Original review below:

I love Slayers. And Tori. And Dirk. And Jesse.

Just all of it and all of them. This one took some fun twists and I loved seeing how things progressed. Of course, this wouldn't be a Janette Rallison book without plenty of witty back-and-forths or some great romantic tension, and this book did not disappoint! It will definitely be interesting to see who Tori ends up with in the final installment, because I keep on ping-ponging in whether I'm rooting for Dirk or Jesse.

[KL B]

Is there a time quesstimate for book 3? I'm super excited for more!!! :)

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slayers rule! Or do they?

Okay, I'll be honest and say "Cliff hanger!" I'm very disappointed with the ending! There was no dragon fight. How are we supposed to work with that? Tori hasn't figured out who she's with and there isn't resolution for anything. It is a really long story (hence the first two huge books) and it draws you in. Then when you're thrown back out, it's just sad! The characters are still themselves, making mistakes and letting Overdrake do all he is. I hope Bess' dad figures out a way to reanimate slayers fast!

[Ruby Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to think of this book. It was good, but then the ending wasn't the greatest, yet I didn't yell at everyone in my family afterward becuase it left me on a huge cliff-hanger and I couldn't deal with it.

This book seemed basically a stepping stone/setup for the next book. Though I would totally recommend.

I still have one totally unrelated to the text question: Did C.J. Hill self publish this novel? It doesn't have the publisher on my copy that I got brand new for christmas, and the note in the back after the story dropped off wouldn't have been included if there was a publisher. Am I the only one who noticed this... I am a weirdo and notice weird stuff. Either way I am glad this one is published!

AGE RECOMMENDATION: 10 and up for violence. Someone younger or who hasn't read any other violent books might not want to read this series.

I hope you enjoyed my SUPER late review. Follow me for better reviews than this :) Happy Reading! -Ruby Rose

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The book has kept me up all night and on my toes. The series is about a girl named Tori Hampton who is forced into a position to save the world from dragons. She has an internal struggle because half of her genetics are telling her to kill dragons and the other half is telling her to protect them. In this specific book, Tori and her team discovers that they could get a lead on the enemy. Instead, they find their enemy's son who's never met their dad that is trying to take over the government. I really enjoy this book and recommend it to everybody!

[Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This book was a little bit maddening. While I enjoyed it like I do all Rallison's work I got really frustrated near the end and then the ending was a hard one. I should have waited for the 4th book to be released to read the 3rd book. I have faith that things will work out in the last book but I am a little mad at Tori for mucking things up so bad in this book.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

. Just okay. Ends in an awkward cliffhanger. Not much happens, but you learn a few things. I was reading an adult murder mystery and an adult romance book. And I was struck at how much better the writing was in the other 2 books. This book is okay for YA, but it's just not sophisticated or clever. Dirk, Jesse and Tori think they are clever, but they are not. And I'm rarely a fan of love triangles and this one was awkward and desperate. I just saw that Book #5 is written with alternate endings in 2 separate books. One where Tori ends up with Jesse and you guessed it, the other has her ending up with Dirk. I guess if the author can't decide, how could we expect Tori to choose just one.

Tori thinks she knows better than anyone and can always justify her actions. What a teenager. How naive of her to think that she could take control of a dragon away from Overdrake or even Dirk. She has even convinced herself that she meets and kisses Dirk to gain intel and for national security. * rolls eyes *

Tori meets Dirk's mother and younger brother. Tori tries to help Aaron become a dragon lord so he can protect his half brother, young slayer Jacob. Instead of recruiting Aaron, Overdrake and Dirk kidnap him.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was even better than the last!! The Slayers series is a hidden gem that I think EVERYBODY should read! These books are fantastic and I can’t wait for the next one to be released!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with the author's daughter, Bad, bad author! How in the world is book #4 not out yet!!! Grrrrrrrr

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.J. Hill/Janette Rallison is a very gifted author. Whether she is writing clean, sweet romance or fantasy stories, she is sure to entertain a wide range of audiences. I was given the privilege of reading this in exchange for an honest review. My son and I both read and thoroughly enjoyed it. This story is a "good guys vs. bad guys" (where the bad guys are seemingly very charming at times and the lines of good vs. evil can appear somewhat blurred and loyalties can switch in the blink of an eye). It is an action-packed, full-length novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. It is part of a full series of books you won't want to miss. This story does not end here, however and Ms. Hill leaves us on a cliffhanger, thirsting for the conclusion of the series. (Book 4 is set to come out shortly.) If you enjoy tales of powerful dragons, teenager dragon slayers and dragon lords with special powers who, in turn, try to save or destroy large cities (all set in modern times), then this series is for you! I look forward to reading the conclusion of the Slayers series in book 4.

[Andrea Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I love the new information from the backstory that is discovered in this one. I really just love CJ Hill's books. I don't even need to read reviews to know they will be great. Humor, romance, and action are all here and it's pure magic. I can't wait for the next one.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sure fire hit from Rallison.

The whole series is great and this one is especially entertaining. Lots of tension and twists to keep me engaged.

[Cyndy Ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series. I felt like I waited forever for this book to come out, but it was worth the wait.

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dragon eggs have hatched, former Slayer Dirk is now known to be a traitor, and Ryker has finally joined the Slayers. They've killed two dragons, but Overdrake still has at least two more. And that means that, compromised or not, the Slayers have to keep meeting to practise, not to mention the occasional mission. Unfortunately for Tori, she has no legitimate reason to give and with her father as presidential candidate as well as the secret Slayer threats, she's got a bodyguard to dodge each time she has to join practice or a mission. And Overdrake is undoubtedly still a threat to the Slayers personally, as well as to the country in general. Can they continue to stay out of his clutches while searching for any hint of where the dragons might be kept? And Tori has another problem: Jesse is her boyfriend (mostly?), but she's still secretly in contact with Dirk - and Dirk is convinced that he can get her over to his side...

I have to admit that the one thing I don't like about the series is the love triangle between Tori, Jesse and Dirk. I like to know who are going to end up together, and Tori just keeps dithering! However, given that this is fantasy rather than romance, I do my best to ignore the romance since I can't decide who to 'go for' :-). That aside, this is a great continuation of the series, again keeping me up late at night because I can't put it down, and keeping me guessing where things will head next, too. I love the humour mixed in with everything else, but the character development, relationships and action are what really drive the thing. I also really appreciate that it's clean - a great reminder that books don't need bedroom scenes or bad language to be engaging. Note that this series really needs to be read as a series - this ended in a serious cliffhanger. Looking forward to continuing with book 4!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

[Dlora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of the Slayers series. A interesting idea was brought up toward the beginning whether Dragon Lord Dirk would be trusted if he left his father and joined the Slayers or, for that matter, if half Slayer-half Dragon Lord Tori could be trusted in a fight with dragons. Both Slayers and Dragon Lord have dragon DNA; slayers bred to hate and kill dragons and dragon Lords bred to love and control dragons through mental connection. But the argument is that “genetics don’t make us who we are. . . . Our choices do.” That debate didn’t keep center stage though and instead the idea-rich story moved into the crux of Overdrake’s ambitions to take over the government echoed by Dirk’s arguments to convince Tori his way is right and important. “The country needs changes. You and I have the opportunity to help solve problems,” says Dirk. To which Tori responds, “There are nonviolent ways to do that.” “Yeah, and we’ve seen how well those methods work: we’re trillions of dollar in debt, the government is weighed down by bureaucracy, and neither party is capable of solving any real problems—let alone easy ones like fixing crumbling bridges and dams. . . . Democracy has always been a blip in history. Eventually, people get too lazy and hedonistic to rule themselves, and society implodes. It happened in Rome, and it’s happening now.” Author Hill brings up real concerns to keep her young readers thinking and make her antagonist believable and well-drawn. There are two new characters introduced: Dirk’s full brother Aaron (a Dragon Lord) and half-brother Jacob (half Slayer-half Dragon Lord), again raising the question of whether loyalties are compelled by genetics or chosen by beliefs. And the story ends on a cliff-hanger!

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between three and four stars. This had been my favorite book of the series so far, with all the drama and tension and covert ops and heists. But I’ve got to say, I really don’t like Dirk. That’s probably an unpopular opinion, but he’s giving Jacob-from-Eclipse vibes. He lies to Tori, manipulates her, tries to seduce her, plays mind games—all in the name of his own selfishness so he can get what he wants, which is for her to switch to his side. Do I understand his motivation? Sure. But it just feels gross. And the fact that Tori goes along with it and even encourages it is gross, too. And one more thing about Dirk. All things considered, he’s really well done as a sympathetic character. He’s a good guy in a bad situation with no good choices. He’s joining his father because there’s just enough truth in the lies behind the coup that he gets a pass for being idealistic. He doesn’t get a pass for being naive. He thinks that if he’s by his dad’s side, he’ll be able to rein him in. But he knows his dad is a sociopath. He knows that killing innocent people won’t bother him, and that if he’s an awful person at home, he’ll be even worse if he’s ruling a whole country. Yet Dirk still goes along with it, supporting him and trying to regain his trust, when the tiniest bit of critical thinning would be enough to prove the country will be much, much worse off with Overdrake than with the red tape and bureaucracy of democracy. I get wanting to protect the dragons and wanting to improve the country’s current issues, but no one as smart as Dirk would believe Overdrake would offer the people a better, fairer life. No pass for naivety and willful blindness, Dirk.

[Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this. Janette and I go way back (like a year or two lol) and I read her early manuscript (which was good but not great like most first drafts are), but if she took all my advice (I haven't read the published version) then it's got to be 5 stars for sure. Because I'm brilliant and so is she. But chances are she knows she's brilliant and is as yet unfamiliar with my brilliance, so she probably didn't take ALL my suggestions and implement them immediately. And for that I'm knocking her down a star. TAKE THAT RICH AND FAMOUS AUTHOR! I can be petty and spiteful in my own small way. (Love you, Jeanette heh heh.) I'm looking over slayers 4 for her right now and I think she's probably starting to regret it. ;)

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh this was so disappointing. The first two books were really fun and fast paced, but this one just dragged on with basically no plot. It started out great, but then nothing else happens! Like literally, nothing happens. It just felt like a pointless filler book in the series. I'm still going to read the last one, but I feel like I could have read a two page summary of notable events in this one and not missed anything. I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because the characters are fun and the writing is light and entertaining.

[Christie Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still enjoying this series. I enjoyed learning more about Dirk and his family. The story has a lot of plot lines open--I enjoyed the new one, with Aaron and Jacob, but Willow's from the last book got dropped almost completely. Hopefully book 4 will have more of her. The Slayers lost another team member, which almost made me cry--I'm also hoping he gets his memories back. I enjoyed the romance--up until the end. I'm not a fan of love triangles, and the confrontation at the end of this book made it almost impossible for me to pretend that one of them is a secret relative. Still excited for book 4.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Mad at the ending (in a good way)

This one was great! Plenty of suspense and sweet romance (and continuation of the love triangle). Oh how the plot of the overall story thickens! I will be starting the next book immediately because it ended with a major cliffhanger. Kinda glad I’m reading it after all the books have been released because I would have been super upset by that big cliffhanger!

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things get a little confusing when Tori has to choose how to strategize Slayers vs Dragon Lords and what powers need to come first. The Overdrake is getting more devious even with Dirk trying to tone him down but Dirk is confused too, and there's still Jesse. Plus new players enter the story and cause a little chaos. Series must be read in order. Clean, drama, danger, dragons, super powers, these books are great.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m definitely enjoying this series. I loved that this one opened up in the POV of a character previously only mentioned briefly, and who I had lots of questions about. Diving into fitting more pieces of the puzzle together was the perfect start to the book. I thought this installment was interesting—more so than the last. I’m glad I already the next book so I can dive right in!

[H.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The drama was annoying

The relationship drama between Tori and Jesse and Dirk was annoying. It felt like most of the book was just drama. What happened to Shang was sad, but hopefully my theory about Willow’s power is correct (my theory is that she can heal the Slayer minds so they remember who they are).

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this for free.

This book had things happening but it felt like almost nothing substantial happened. This and the next book could easily be combined I think. Also the love triangle is stupid and all the characters are beautiful.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't feel like this moved the story along much, at least not until the end. The author ended up splitting her original third book into two books and it feels like this is an introduction to the final.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am pretty sure my daughter will like it, and I am pretty sure I am not the target audience. Although, I do like dragons. It's a very teenagery adventure cum save-the-world type thing - mildly entertaining and occasionally nauseating.