Author: Katie MacAlister
ISBN: 978-034-099303-3
RRP: $19.99
Ok, so reading this book was a little stilted as I lost it over the weekend so had a break and read something else in the middle. I was a little concerned that the distraction would lose me and I would find it hard to fully return to the time of the Dragons and understand the ending of the book. This didn’t happen, I sank straight back in and picked up where I left off without missing a beat. And I think that is an undeniable sign of a well written book.
Love in the time of Dragons is the first novel of the Light Dragons, but before it there was the Aisling Grey series and the novels of the Silver Dragons. I am meeting all of these characters for the first time in Love in the time of Dragons and it seems to me that, apart from the two main characters, the dragons have had their stories told in the previous dragons novels. This is the beginning of the series but still the extension, or spin off even, of the other series.
Part of me really wants to say that this is easy to read and immerse yourself in, a big part of me, but then there’s this little voice telling me to remember the time shifts. A fabulous read that flows beautifully, even considering the fact that there are split second time shifts that do take a little to get used to. Our female lead is a resurrected dragon who begins the story with no memory of her life. Within pages she is having visions which flip us back to her youth. One minute she’s in the 20th century and then the new paragraph sees her back in the 16th century.
MacAlister’s dragons are immortal shapeshifters living among mortals in the modern world. Tully Sullivan (previously known as Ysolde de Bouchier) is apprenticed to an archimage which had me thinking right from the beginning that the novel must be set in the past, no it’s just that the modern world of the novels is a little different from ours.
We journey through the novel with Tully as she regains her memories and her past to truly become the Ysolde who resides within her. It is a huge journey for her that seems to last a lot longer than the week or so that it actually takes. From adamantly defending her humanity and name in the first chapters to truly becoming the dragon Ysolde in the final pages. The life of Ysolde and her mate Baltic change so drastically in bringing them back together and renewing their love and their vows it seems a shame that the situation they find themselves in at the beginning is almost exactly the same as the one we leave them in at the end of the novel.
This is another fantastical story laced with lots of sex, violence and love that really is eternal. In the present, Tully’s memories and Ysolde’s flashbacks we experience third hand quite a bit of dragon love and romance complete with breath of fire. Mixed in with quite a bit of violence, carried out in human and dragon form.
A very different world to escape into for a while, but one I’m sure you will enjoy and want to revisit at a later date as more novels of the Light Dragons are released.
Want to Win a Copy?
We have 2 copies of Love in the Time of Dragons to giveaway! For your chance to win one, comment on this post telling us why this book appeals to you. Competition open to Australian and New Zealand residents only. Make sure you leave your correct email address (will not be published) so we can contact you if you are a winner. Expires August 13th 2010.
About Michelle
Shapeshifting, timeshifting I am totally intrigued. The amazing cover helps too.
I really loved the beginning of Love in the Time of Dragons and even though I am not a fan of flashbacks I actually enjoyed them here. I thought that Tully’s dreams were a very effective way of telling the story of Silver Dragon Ysolde and Black Dragon Baltic’s love in their past life together, while also allowing the now human Tully to slowly regain her memories of her life as Ysolde and her love for Baltic.
Love, violence and dragons combined with shape-shifting and time-shifting, this book sounds so interesting! I have never read a book by Katie MacAlister, and ‘Love in the Time of Dragons’ definitely sounds like a good one to start with!
Plus, how gorgeous is the cover?! It makes me want to read this even more!
Wow, an adult version of Eragon which I would find difficult to put down.
Love in the Time of Dragons
A story of love, sex and sin
I often dream of Dragons
and the mystical cover lures me in!
What a great way to escape to another world…or should I say worlds!
Cannot wait to go on an AMAZING adventure without even leaving my living room!
I love to read about things that I don’t have in my own life, thats why the dragons, sex and violence in this book appeals to me!
After reading Deepak Chopra’s “The Return of Merlin” I’m hungering for another really well-written novel and Michelle’s review makes me think this one’s got all the elements I’ve been spoiled with! Plus my insatiable appetite for more more more more!! is going to be fulfilled, knowing there are more by the same author and in the same genre.
Mystical and mesmerising,
A love of a different kind,
Take me away to another place,
Where true love prevails, and Dragons shine!
Wow dragons shapeshifting to human form-fantastic idea. With all the mysticism and adventure anyone would want-a must for me too read
i love the fact that is a book that if need be can be put down and picked back up at a later time with out any loss of what is going on nothing like a book with a difference as we normally read about dragons being dark ans gloomy.
Well being a avid reader I love the shapeshifting , love , and sex, rilavry, and a combination of all the above makes a great read.. The story line sounds very interesing, and the tattoo on the girls back, very intriguing. Love the cover !!! And so very difernt to most books out at the moment ,, A love story involving dragons … something very different, but also very tempting.
Katrina
It sounds completely intriguing
I love books with a fantasy/mythical element and this sounds like just the ticket
To me it sounds like a fun and silly paranormal romance
Love in the Time of Dragons is the sort of book where you suspend your disbelief using an industrial winch.
I LOVE the cover! It sounds really interesting. I’d love to win this book!
I love books that take me to a mythical place so different to reality and this looks like a book for me. Dragons, different times and true love – what could be better?!
This book totally appeals to all my geek literary obsessions lately! I’ve always been a fan of dragons and medieval type fantasy themes, and after reading Melissa de la Cruz’ Blue Bloods series I’ve also become obsessed with the idea of past lives, as her vampire/angel characters regain their memories of hundreds of past lives when they reach 16 years old. It just all around sounds good <3
I love fantasy as it takes me away from the real world and lets me escape into a magical one for a while. Love, dragons and the search for your true self sounds like a compelling dive into the unknown.
I love to curl up in my favourite armchair & escape from reality into another time or dimension; to be whomever I wish; do whatever I will and go wherever my fancy takes me.
This book appears to be pure escapism and is extremely appealing.
I love any book which involves past lives and time travel, I think because I am so fascinated with the past.
Tragically I do judge a book by it’s cover, and my vivid imagination is already working overtime at the possible scenarios in store for the beauty gracing the face of this book.
A picture paints a million words, and first impressions last a lifetime – and my mind is filled with a multitude of glorious story lines, awaiting
to be devoured from within this alluring cover.
Having just put down (literally) a book on realm travelling I’m hunting around for another fantasy novel, truly the best to immerse yourself in. Thanks for the review Michelle, it whets the appetite.
I love all fantasy books, specially the one’s that transport you into the story so you feel like you are apart of the character living the advanture. Thank you Katie for creating this story, I can’t wait to read what advantures await me.
I didn’t know what I was missing until I read my first paranormal novel “Original Sin”. So I’m going to give psychological thrillers the boot and loose myself in the world of dragons, whimsy and fantasy so bring on ” Love in the Time of Dragons”.
What an extraordinary book, with an intriguing outlook.
It’s full of imagination, hopefully I’ll have not one distraction.
Remembering timeshifts, and waiting for bodily shapeshifts.
A story of regaining memories, and full of fantasies.
Katie McAlister, I’m sure is an outstanding writer.
A good book can do more than transport the reader to a time and place where the impossible can happen, suspending logic and sense. It can bridge the generational gap, for young and old alike. Introduced to the fantasy/magic genre by my daughter, we now revel in sharing novels and new authors. I think Katie McAlister will be on the BBB (beg/borrow/buy) list !
I have heard all about her
what a wonderful writer
i would love to read one of her books
so the others that have read them stop giving me dirty looks
Intrigue, Romance and Fantasy are my favourite genres and Love in the Time of Dragons sounds like a compelling read with an extraordinery storyline. It has a nice twist using a shape shifter. I almost want to go out and buy it instantly. I hope I win this competition.
Simply because it sounds entertaining and interesting to me.
It sounds exciting reading about dragons a wild adventure.
i love the look of this book as it has 2 of my fav things in it .. dragons and shapeshifters and would love to win it !
I love the fantasy world of dragons and combining romance with them is a winning combination and would make a great read
I’m a voracious reader and will devour almost anything but particular favourites of mine ate the paranormal and fantasy genres. I’m back at uni now but I’d love a fantastical, escapist story to wind down with when I’m not studying.
Im always looking for another fantasy book and share them with some friends, I love to escape from being mum, the housework, and work for a few minutes when picking up the book, usually whilst cooking!!!
It’s everything I want in a novel. My life isn’t the same without a good book in my hand. On the weekends, I’ll escape outside on my verandah with my beanbag to read this book. And at night, I’ll be keeping warm in bed when I’m in my own fantasy world
I love paranormal romance, it makes my imagination dance. It takes me away to worlds without grey within nary a glance.
This book will take me to new places-physically and emotionally. Fantasy novels compel me to finish the next page, the next chapter, while the ending leaves me champing for the rest of series. This book will keep me coming back for more
I am a bookworm of the nerdiest proportions. One of my crushes are fantasy novels. I’m reading at least two books… can’t live without books. Would love to get some ‘me time’ and relax with this new book
Paranormal and fantasy novels have changed my approach to reading. The writing is remarkable and blows me away. Whether it’s dragons, vampires or ghosts, I can read it over and over again
Love the boldness of the story…how do they come up with such ideas,
Really would love the challenge of this novel…heard good things about it!
I love fantasy, an escape from the everyday you can get lost in the amazing worlds and charaters, you can fall in love with handsome heros explore unknown lands and defeat evil beings do all of this and more, just be careful you don’t burn the dinner or forget to feed the cat!
I could so get into reading this book and emerse myself in a fantasy world i love a serious fantasy
My son is obsessed with dragon, so am reading a lot of dragon stories…….unfortunately they don’t have many word.
I’d love a Mummy one
I love dragons.I fantasize that one day I will become part of this by having a dragon tattooed on my body. My secret fantasy!
Its great that you can put this book down in the middle and come back to it but, I have to be honest, it sounds pretty awesome and I suspect I would be letting you know how it goes in an all night reading session instead
Look forward to entering this universe which sounds like it runs parallel to ours