Trained, stalked, and marked for death was not her plan for the day. Time for a road trip to clear her head.
Trin has trained to be stealthy, trained to defend herself, but when a bounty on her head threatens the safety of her friends, she has to get out of town. Visiting a friend and mixing business with her escape, she learns that dragons mixing their bloodlines may be more common than anyone thought. She spends enough time in Breaker City ordering tea and ceramics to figure out what she wants to do next, and what she wants to do is find out who and where she came from. Learning the details of her family tree leaves her shaken, but nothing can hold her back when it comes to following her instincts. Not even the very folk she came to meet.
Writing is ok, but it's not even close to a romance. I started reading this author for the bite sized, semi-spicy sci fi fantasy romance. I could justify the price point vs. word count bc I enjoyed them enough to re-read multiple times, but, sadly, no more. I do wish authors would be upfront with their readers about this type of change, because when you do the math, your paying about $20 for an average length book by the time her series is over. Also, IMO, it's more YA than adult and that's a huge readership change. Please, authors, be honest with your readers. I will now look for ways to borrow before I commit to buying. And before anyone thinks that I didn't do my due diligence before buying (after the first massive change) I did. But extasy books had the heat level marked her normal 3. When I asked about it I was told she couldn't control what her publisher listed. Huh? Anywhoo, I'm sad about losing a perfect niche author (for me, anyway).
Really enjoying this series so far, but it's clear (even without her comments at the end) that the author's not even vaguely aware of where this is headed. I'm Ride or Die for this writer because she's so fun and original, but I'm also frustrated that I can't even speculate on what will happen in the next book because like 8 wtf bombs of new plot lines were dropped right before the end that wasn't even the end of a scene, just the end of a thought of a secondary character while everyone looks at each other. And now her publishing schedule is irregular, so that ending is gonna bug me for months.
It's not an atrocious cliffhanger, but it's still a cliffhanger. Fight me.
This book went by too quickly. I didn't get the word count but it seems that it must have been very short. I'm not crazy about buying a book with so much missing. I doubt very much I will purchase the next in this series. I loved the characters and plot-line, but I just can't afford this with my budget. Go to UL or go home.
Again a very short story and while it has a lot of fun idea and interesting situations it never spends any time going into detail on any of them.
Here is the plot summary I'll spoiler tag it as it's basically the whole book give or take.
The story doesn't go into much more detail than that summary. Whole situations pop up then disappear like the whole gang holding up the shop seems to have been just an excuse for a fight it happens there seems to be some story there some element of the world to explore but then it's over the idea dismissed never talked about or mentioned again like so many of the story threads.
I'm not sure I'll bother with these books anymore I like the ideas and the characters but the stories are so bare bones and short nothing is ever explored in any great detail, it's all just glossed over lots of thing happening very quickly and then an unsatisfying end. Bit of a shame really as I think if there was more exploration of the concepts more of the story being fleshed out these could be a lot better books. Even if the length was the same but only one of the short scenes was written more completely it would be better.
Still fun if you don't care out any sort of depth and just want a really quick read in a hour story but nothing there to get your teeth into.
I really like the premise of the story, but its delivery feels stilted and clumsy. For example, when something interesting happens, the reader gets very little of the characters' reactions. Writing in 3rd person omniscient doesn't mean just relating the tale, the characters don't come alive without the main character's reactions, inner conflicts, and insecurities. The main character has so few of these that it's really hard to relate to her. Also, the dialog is sad; people speak in contractions: it's, I'm, we're, etc. When I write dialog, I read aloud sometimes to ensure it sounds the way real people talk. Description is inconsistent; need more on the five senses and less on her wardrobe maybe. Even the opening scene was unrealistic; she's a new dragon for heaven's sake. Her mentor should present more of a challenge despite their size differences. She has many more years of fighting experience, after all. Trin only has 25. So sorry such a promising story has such poor delivery.
Perfect mix of streampunk, adventure, romance and technology!
I really love most of Viola's stories but the Covert Dragons series is a perfect mix of everything that makes for a fantastic streampunk story without being so obviously a steampunk story. It doesn't thrash the genre but mixes do many wonderful elements into this world and its characters that I only wish the series had better ratings that reflected its uniqueness.
It takes great writtery talent to create a world, beautifully alive characters and fascinating adventures, a story that fits so wonderfully well between genre that when reading, one must let go of preconceived notions of where the story fits. I love it.
Its not everyday that I come across a story so beautifully unique. Very well written, prefecture descriptive, alluringly put together. Definitely worth the read, can't wait for more.
My only complaint - the stories are certainly not long enough. I want more.
Okay this is starting to annoy me a little. Don't get me wrong the story is exciting and I look forward to reading where it goes but.... this is the second book, and it feels like only a week went by in this book? Sure, she discovers a little bit more about her mother but you're not really any closer to knowing what went on and who she is.
Is this just about making money? and not about creating a good book?
Great things are progressing in this series of events and subterfuge. Defiantly worth reading, the plans within plans brings forth revelations of things to come. As I said before you will not out this series down till you reach the conclusion. Now awaiting the next book, wish they where longger.
Trin has just got comfy with being a rare crystal dragon shifter. When someone tries to kill her, her friends send her off into hiding, where she finds more about her lost family history than she ever wanted to know. Stay tuned for more of the exciting adventures of Trin - the world's only DIAMOND dragon!!
I loved this story. It captivated me, Viola Grace has done it again. The storyline was absolutely fantastic, the little twists were fun to read. The characters were entertaining. Eagerly awaiting more in this series.
I don’t know if I should feel cheated or excited? The ending is the ultimate cliffhanger and leaves you just dumbfounded. I love this series and how it draws you in to the point you feel like you are the characters. I need the next one ASAP!
Miss Grace, I am caught again. You weave a story and build worlds that make me anxious for the next book. This second Covert Dragons book is just as wonderful as the first. I cannot wait for Trin and the gangs next chapter.
Exciting installment, cliffhanger ending. I love the humor and dialog beaten the characters. You learn more about Trin's family and how she came to be.
Trin is adapting to her new life as a dragon, while maintaining ties to her friends and business. An attack on her while looking at property for a new coffee and tea house, sends her looking for answers. She covertly leaves the city on Ystine, her velocipede with a an AI, with help from Brommin and Creata. Trin heads to Breaker city and meets up with her friend Apraxa, a half shark shifter, who has been keeping some secrets of her own. Apraxa is head of inports and exports for the city and get her a job as escort for a merchant who has a deliver for the Delarm Valley. Trin finds her mother's family and they give her a creepy vibe. She makes her escape and rescues her Aunt Meadra, who is younger, and greatly resembles her. Meadra fills her in on what her family has been up to. Brommin take the information back to the Council. Now Trin and Meadra are laying low with Apraxa waiting on what the Council decides. A trip to the Botanical Garden and a meeting with the Curator, who reads tea leaves, give Trin, Meadra and Apraxa a hint of things to come. Apraxa needs to deal with "the tempest" heading her way sooner than later. Love this series. Loved Apraxa and her family. Can't wait to meet her tempest. Looking forward to what is in store for Meadra. Will Trin have trouble claiming her mate at the ball? Can't wait for the next book and seeing where the story goes next.
I was enjoying this continuation of the Bastard Dragon when all of a sudden, it just stopped. Talk about frustrating, especially since I had been enjoying what Trin was up to now that she was out of the city, and by herself.
I swear this must have been a book that was cut into three pieces to make more money. Seriously, each of the parts in the trilogy costs between $6-8 dollar - and they are only around 85 - 93 pages each! Rip off.
Thankfully, my library purchased the first 2 parts (I requested on OverDrive), and I will be requesting the third because I don’t want to pay around $20+ for what is essentially one ebook.
3 stars because if you can borrow it from your library it was really fast paced, with fun characters and an interesting premise. The authors writing style is easy to follow, and full of great imagery.
The world building for this series is fantastic!!!
Trin has a price on her head & heads out of the city to avoid her friends being in danger and also to track down some new tea & ceramics for the new tea & coffee shops.
Whilst out in the country she tracks down her mother's family and makes an unwelcome discovery. They are a weird cult and they don't want her to leave.
The book consists of short reads that are an interesting read. But they did not combine to form a plot. The book needed a unifying story to pull the book together. If that was present, this book could have been rated much higher.
An intriguing new series by one of my favourite prolific authors. The books in this series are a bit longer than her usual fare, but still too short! There is some much more to explore. I don't know Ms. Grace keeps it original.