What do you think?
Rate this book
Death Before Dragons #2
Battle Bond
If you think having one dragon around messes up your life, imagine what it’s like when a second one shows up.
I’m Val Thorvald, assassin of magical bad guys and tenuous ally to the dragon lord Zav.
He still calls me a mongrel and thinks I’m a criminal, but he healed my wounds after we fought those dark elves together. That’s progress, right? Maybe one day, he’ll deign to use my name.
Not that this is my primary concern. I’m busy with a new assignment. Nin, the awesome lady who makes my magical weapons, has a werewolf problem. Specifically, sleazy loser werewolf competitors who want to drive her out of business. Or worse.
Normally, a couple of werewolves wouldn’t be a big deal, but these ones have powerful allies. And then there’s that new dragon.
It turns out he’s one of Zav’s enemies, and he wants to use me against him.
I don’t know why he’s picking on me—it’s not like I mean something to Zav—but somehow I’ve gotten stuck in the middle of dragon politics. If you think that sounds like a nightmare, you’re right.
If I can’t figure out a way to help my friend with the werewolves while keeping these dragons from tearing me apart, we’re both going to end up flatter than the deck chairs when Zav lands on the roof of my apartment building.
I’m Val Thorvald, assassin of magical bad guys and tenuous ally to the dragon lord Zav.
He still calls me a mongrel and thinks I’m a criminal, but he healed my wounds after we fought those dark elves together. That’s progress, right? Maybe one day, he’ll deign to use my name.
Not that this is my primary concern. I’m busy with a new assignment. Nin, the awesome lady who makes my magical weapons, has a werewolf problem. Specifically, sleazy loser werewolf competitors who want to drive her out of business. Or worse.
Normally, a couple of werewolves wouldn’t be a big deal, but these ones have powerful allies. And then there’s that new dragon.
It turns out he’s one of Zav’s enemies, and he wants to use me against him.
I don’t know why he’s picking on me—it’s not like I mean something to Zav—but somehow I’ve gotten stuck in the middle of dragon politics. If you think that sounds like a nightmare, you’re right.
If I can’t figure out a way to help my friend with the werewolves while keeping these dragons from tearing me apart, we’re both going to end up flatter than the deck chairs when Zav lands on the roof of my apartment building.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2020
1984 people are currently reading
977 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Buroker
191 books6,083 followersI'm a full-time indie fantasy and science fiction author. When I'm not writing, I'm ferrying my dogs to hiking trails for adventures.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
October 9, 2020
OMG WOW
I thought the first book in this series Sinister Magic was good but this book was absolutely amazing.
First, I haven't read anything remotely similar to this series, I think this is a first with dragons and by the time I reached the end of book 1, I was intrigued.... Now? Dragons are great, well Zav is great, he is hot too (yes, I can honestly say this dragon is got)!
Val is a great leading character, her human and elven heritage makes for an interesting character and as she develops in these story lines I can see her powers coming forward slowly but surely.
I actually can't wait to get further into these books, I am absolutely loving them!!
I thought the first book in this series Sinister Magic was good but this book was absolutely amazing.
First, I haven't read anything remotely similar to this series, I think this is a first with dragons and by the time I reached the end of book 1, I was intrigued.... Now? Dragons are great, well Zav is great, he is hot too (yes, I can honestly say this dragon is got)!
Val is a great leading character, her human and elven heritage makes for an interesting character and as she develops in these story lines I can see her powers coming forward slowly but surely.
I actually can't wait to get further into these books, I am absolutely loving them!!
April 16, 2025
The second installment in the Dragons series has me questioning my taste.
Trigger warnings: TSTL™ tendencies, rapey situations, and did I mention TSTL™ in a professional 'assassin'?
Val agrees to help her friend Nin deal with a pair of werewolves who are business competitors but are taking it to the next level of violence. Val is uncomfortable doing it for money, and repeated mention is made of this. I am not sure why. Val's big plan is to go talk to the werewolves, who immediately hit on her. Needless to say, it escalates when they won't leave her alone (almost like confronting wolves in their den is a bad idea?) and the rest of the pack comes in to help. She uses her main exit strategy, fighting her way out and running while allowing her tiger familiar to hold off pursuit. As she runs, she notes someone telepathically asking for help, although she can't figure out who or why.
Meanwhile, a new dragon is in town and might have kidnapped a forest ranger. There's also some missing joggers. At this point in the series, we've been told numerous times the strategic ways to interact with dragons, but Val just can't do it. Instead she relies on snark and using violence to escalate the situation. What kind of assassin is she? The worst kind, that appears to have absolutely no planning ability and whose behavior makes confrontation likely to end in collateral deaths. Then we get into another villain grandstanding, fondling her and talking about rape, because she couldn't use her resources and plan ahead. However, seeds of ethics planted in the last book paid off in that she held off on killing on a couple of occasions. Yay for personal growth! If only she could now use her brain.
Buroker can write, certainly, but it appears that her storytelling continues to grate on me. The romantic interest is continuing to be pushed ahead with forced interactions and with details from others instead of actual communication between the parties. The villain was bad enough without the rape scenario; why'd Buroker have to go to that old trope?
For those who are unfamiliar, TSTL means
Trigger warnings: TSTL™ tendencies, rapey situations, and did I mention TSTL™ in a professional 'assassin'?
Val agrees to help her friend Nin deal with a pair of werewolves who are business competitors but are taking it to the next level of violence. Val is uncomfortable doing it for money, and repeated mention is made of this. I am not sure why. Val's big plan is to go talk to the werewolves, who immediately hit on her. Needless to say, it escalates when they won't leave her alone (almost like confronting wolves in their den is a bad idea?) and the rest of the pack comes in to help. She uses her main exit strategy, fighting her way out and running while allowing her tiger familiar to hold off pursuit. As she runs, she notes someone telepathically asking for help, although she can't figure out who or why.
Meanwhile, a new dragon is in town and might have kidnapped a forest ranger. There's also some missing joggers. At this point in the series, we've been told numerous times the strategic ways to interact with dragons, but Val just can't do it. Instead she relies on snark and using violence to escalate the situation. What kind of assassin is she? The worst kind, that appears to have absolutely no planning ability and whose behavior makes confrontation likely to end in collateral deaths. Then we get into another villain grandstanding, fondling her and talking about rape, because she couldn't use her resources and plan ahead. However, seeds of ethics planted in the last book paid off in that she held off on killing on a couple of occasions. Yay for personal growth! If only she could now use her brain.
Buroker can write, certainly, but it appears that her storytelling continues to grate on me. The romantic interest is continuing to be pushed ahead with forced interactions and with details from others instead of actual communication between the parties. The villain was bad enough without the rape scenario; why'd Buroker have to go to that old trope?
For those who are unfamiliar, TSTL means
April 12, 2020
This is second in a UF series and as is generally the case, some story and plot continue from book to book. I definitely recommend reading in order.
Since you read the first book first like a sane person, you know pretty much what to expect with this one. This one has more interaction with Zav, and that's a wonderful thing (their banter is nearly as good as with Sindari, though with an entirely different flavor). The new dragon (from a rival family from Zav) is kind of cliché, though I like that Buroker uses him to illustrate the weaknesses in Zav's superiority about their way of handling criminals.
It loses maybe half a star for the ending where . But since I'm rounding up from there (seriously, the banter is awesome) it won't actually matter visually/ratings wise. I'm enjoying the series and can't wait to get more.
A note about romance: There's a slight indication that Zav and Val is in the realm of possibility, but it's a very, very slight possibility given what we know at this point. I'm happy with that and how it's developing. Given the genre, it probably will become a thing, but that's all good from my (admittedly romance-positive) standpoint.
Since you read the first book first like a sane person, you know pretty much what to expect with this one. This one has more interaction with Zav, and that's a wonderful thing (their banter is nearly as good as with Sindari, though with an entirely different flavor). The new dragon (from a rival family from Zav) is kind of cliché, though I like that Buroker uses him to illustrate the weaknesses in Zav's superiority about their way of handling criminals.
It loses maybe half a star for the ending where . But since I'm rounding up from there (seriously, the banter is awesome) it won't actually matter visually/ratings wise. I'm enjoying the series and can't wait to get more.
A note about romance: There's a slight indication that Zav and Val is in the realm of possibility, but it's a very, very slight possibility given what we know at this point. I'm happy with that and how it's developing. Given the genre, it probably will become a thing, but that's all good from my (admittedly romance-positive) standpoint.
October 5, 2020
Battle Bond is book two in the Death Before Dragons series by Lindsay Buroker. It’s full of fast-paced action and non-stop adventure that will keep you coming back for more.
I’m hooked!! Book one grabbed me and I couldn’t help put pick up the next book and the next. I like the direction things are going and how we learn more and more about Val. The world building is well done and the character development is just right. I also can’t get enough of our tiger side kick.
Battle Bond picks up immediately after the ending of Sinister Magic.
Val is a kick-ass heroine who’s hardworking and sarcastic. She’s got the best sidekick in her fury friend. I really like Val! She has doubts and fears just like all of use. She’s got quirks, heart, and isn’t perfect. All this makes her more human and relatable.
This time around a dragon has come to Earth to harass Zav. He’s nothing like Zav and has kidnapped children all in his twisted desire to put Zav off his game. Val ends up in the middle of this game between dragons. As for the dragons we still don’t know about their politics, but I’m sure that will come to light as the series moves on. Besides the case for work in the missing children, Val also takes on a pro-bono case for her friend Nin who is being harassed by a pride of big cat shifters.
For all of Val’s bluster, she cares, a LOT. As the story progresses we learn that things aren’t finished with the dark elves and that she’s going to end up in the thick of things again as she tries to do the right thing under some very difficult restrictions; especially the ones that the government has put on her.
Last, this book does hint at an eventual romance between Val and Zav. I’m not sure if I want this to happen or not. Zav doesn’t see Val as much more than a lesser being and that dragons are superior. At times you think he sees her as more, but then it’s right back to the lesser being.
Battle Bond is the same breakneck-pace as the first book with a few pauses added in, but for the most part it’s go go go. Val has to learn to navigate the magical and mundane in this world as things are changing.
Rated: 4. 5 Stars
I’m hooked!! Book one grabbed me and I couldn’t help put pick up the next book and the next. I like the direction things are going and how we learn more and more about Val. The world building is well done and the character development is just right. I also can’t get enough of our tiger side kick.
Battle Bond picks up immediately after the ending of Sinister Magic.
Val is a kick-ass heroine who’s hardworking and sarcastic. She’s got the best sidekick in her fury friend. I really like Val! She has doubts and fears just like all of use. She’s got quirks, heart, and isn’t perfect. All this makes her more human and relatable.
This time around a dragon has come to Earth to harass Zav. He’s nothing like Zav and has kidnapped children all in his twisted desire to put Zav off his game. Val ends up in the middle of this game between dragons. As for the dragons we still don’t know about their politics, but I’m sure that will come to light as the series moves on. Besides the case for work in the missing children, Val also takes on a pro-bono case for her friend Nin who is being harassed by a pride of big cat shifters.
For all of Val’s bluster, she cares, a LOT. As the story progresses we learn that things aren’t finished with the dark elves and that she’s going to end up in the thick of things again as she tries to do the right thing under some very difficult restrictions; especially the ones that the government has put on her.
Last, this book does hint at an eventual romance between Val and Zav. I’m not sure if I want this to happen or not. Zav doesn’t see Val as much more than a lesser being and that dragons are superior. At times you think he sees her as more, but then it’s right back to the lesser being.
Battle Bond is the same breakneck-pace as the first book with a few pauses added in, but for the most part it’s go go go. Val has to learn to navigate the magical and mundane in this world as things are changing.
Rated: 4. 5 Stars
March 20, 2020
3.5
I'm enjoying the snark, story, and a little bit of progress in the romance department.
Also, the fact that Zav legit posed for a picture and printed out a poster for Val to have made me genuinely laugh out loud.
But what bothered me is how almost all of the supes see her and automatically want her to die. I'd like her to meet a supe that didn't automatically go right for violence or sexual assault-or even those that don't attack- are verbally rude.
I dont know why people constantly just hating on her annoys me so much. Its not really fun to read the main character being shit on by everyone on sight.
However, I am willing to stick around in hopes of Zav relaxing his mongrel hating ways. I see potential under all that arrogance.
I'm enjoying the snark, story, and a little bit of progress in the romance department.
Also, the fact that Zav legit posed for a picture and printed out a poster for Val to have made me genuinely laugh out loud.
But what bothered me is how almost all of the supes see her and automatically want her to die. I'd like her to meet a supe that didn't automatically go right for violence or sexual assault-or even those that don't attack- are verbally rude.
I dont know why people constantly just hating on her annoys me so much. Its not really fun to read the main character being shit on by everyone on sight.
However, I am willing to stick around in hopes of Zav relaxing his mongrel hating ways. I see potential under all that arrogance.
May 20, 2021
Buddy read with the MacHalos weirdos.
4.3 now-this-is-a-fucking-Buroker-book stars
It is becoming apparent that it takes Buroker a book or two to really get into her characters.
Pros:
- The snark. The banter. THE SASS. All of it. Everywhere.
- Pompous, haughty, holier-than-thou dragon. But in an endearing way. I ❤️ Lord Dragon.
- Sindari.
- Slow burn.
Cons:
- Took a minute to really get going (about the 30% mark).
Why is this not 5 stars, if you liked it so much?
Because I reserve the right to label the following books 5 stars, and I have a sneaking suspicion they are going to keep getting better. Because Buroker.
4.3 now-this-is-a-fucking-Buroker-book stars
It is becoming apparent that it takes Buroker a book or two to really get into her characters.
Pros:
- The snark. The banter. THE SASS. All of it. Everywhere.
- Pompous, haughty, holier-than-thou dragon. But in an endearing way. I ❤️ Lord Dragon.
“Who told you this lie? Dragons have riotous senses of humor, but we only tell jokes among our own kind. Inferior species would not have the necessary mental acuity to grasp them.”
- Sindari.
“What are you doing, Sindari?” I asked.
Sitting regally and politely allowing your human allies to touch me, as would be proper for an ambassador of Del’noth sent to foster peace among our peoples.
“Your tongue is hanging out.”
Regally.
- Slow burn.
Cons:
- Took a minute to really get going (about the 30% mark).
Why is this not 5 stars, if you liked it so much?
Because I reserve the right to label the following books 5 stars, and I have a sneaking suspicion they are going to keep getting better. Because Buroker.
November 14, 2023
Listened to the audiobook the second time around and still really enjoyed it.
July 8, 2020
It had to be hard to laugh when one’s haughtiness mask was affixed so tightly. “
Who told you this lie? Dragons have riotous senses of humor, but we only tell jokes among our own kind. Inferior species would not have the necessary mental acuity to grasp them.”
So much haughtiness.
Val and Zac team up to stop another dragon who’s hiding out on Earth.
This is a really funny urban fantasy series.
Who told you this lie? Dragons have riotous senses of humor, but we only tell jokes among our own kind. Inferior species would not have the necessary mental acuity to grasp them.”
So much haughtiness.
Val and Zac team up to stop another dragon who’s hiding out on Earth.
This is a really funny urban fantasy series.
March 22, 2020
Originally published at Reading Reality
After falling into the first book in this series, Sinister Magic, earlier this month, I was on pins and needles waiting for Val’s second outing to arrive on my ereader. And Battle Bond generally did not disappoint.
Even if I haven’t figured out the title yet. I’m saying that because I just realized what the “sinister magic” of the first title referred to. I wasn’t having much luck with understanding the series title either, until I read a bit of background posted on the author’s site and she explained it was all about Val’s perspective, that she would prefer to be dead rather than become a dragon’s pawn or thrall.
Not that she doesn’t keep ending up in just that position – but she gets better. Also her own personal dragon, while still copping a smug and superior attitude that should get him a slap upside the head, is, not exactly mellowing, but becoming a bit less unbearable.
Particularly in comparison to the dragon that has come to our Earth in order to bait, annoy and try to kill Val’s good frenemy, the dragon Zavryd. A dragon who really doesn’t like it when Val refers to him as Zav.
The story in Battle Bond picks up immediately after the ending of Sinister Magic. Val’s government boss is still recovering from the magical cancer that the dark elves infected her with, and Val is still driving the government loaner Jeep that she requisitioned after Zav threw her old Jeep into the upper branches of a very tall tree.
In this outing, Val’s cases, as is probably going to turn out to be usual for her, intersect with a vengeance. Also with actual vengeance.
A dragon has come to Earth to harass Zav, for reasons that will probably become clear later in the series when we – and Val – know a whole lot more about dragon politics back on Zav’s homeworld.
Meanwhile this dragon is kidnapping children. And hikers. And eventually taking over large but remote government compounds, all as part of a twisted desire to put Zav off his game so that he can be eliminated. Possibly eliminating Val along the way.
But Val also has a case that she is taking pro bono. Her friend and magical weapons supplier Nin is being harassed by a pride of big cat shifters who want to drive her out of business. If they put her in the ground as part of that driving out they really don’t care.
Val, however, cares a LOT. She just has to find a way to convince an entire pride of over a dozen members and growing – also growling, that Val AND Nin are not to be messed with. Possibly by messing with them – permanently. Whether she’s supposed to or not.
Both cases prove to Val that none of the things she thought she wrapped up at the end of the first book are remotely done with her yet. And that she’s going to be ass-deep in dark elves AND dragons for the foreseeable future.
If she has one.
Escape Rating B+: I really, really like Val as a character. She has all kinds of doubts and fears, making her very human in spite of her half-elven parentage. She’s also got some really interesting quirks and a seriously problematic Achilles heel. She’s far, far from perfect, and she’d be the first to admit it.
That she has a therapist who can’t help but remind her of all the ways she’s failing herself just adds to the portrait of the kickass heroine as a flawed human being – whether or not she’s only half-human.
For the most part, Battle Bond is at the same breakneck-pace-with-occasional-pauses as the first book in the series. Val’s world, the mixture of the magical and the mundane that she has to navigate, is complicated by its resemblance to the world we know. Finding out what makes it different among the sameness requires some tricky and time-consuming but pace-slowing worldbuilding. Something that I’m generally for and complain about when I don’t get so I’m happy to see that investment here at the beginning.
At the same time there’s still quite a bit of setup over the first half of the book. But once this one gets going – once all of Val’s ducks have been completely knocked out of alignment and all of her plans have been subjected to Murphy’s Law, the entire thing kicks into very high gear.
I want to say that Val leaps out of the frying pan into the fire, but that’s not strictly true. Val is trying to do the right thing under some very difficult constraints – especially the constraint that the government for the most part refuses to acknowledge that magic exists and therefore doesn’t have much of an arsenal for dealing with or recovering from it. And that her mandate is to eliminate the threat to the human population while the dragon Zav’s mandate is to punish and rehabilitate evildoers from his realm who have come to Earth. It’s more like Val leaps out of the frying pan and the fire just appears – over and over and over.
There is a sense that Val spends a lot of this story as a chew toy being fought over by two dragons who both think of her as a MUCH lesser being but are more than happy to use her for their own ends. And that in spite of her stated desire to die rather than become a dragon’s pawn, she spends a lot of this installment being just that.
She does get better. For the most part. But this book does hint at an eventual romance between Val and Zav, and I’ll admit that so far I’m not there for it. It’s going to take a LOT of this author’s generally excellent worldbuilding and character development to get me there.
But I’ll be back next month for the third book in the series, Tangled Truths, to see just how that turns out!
After falling into the first book in this series, Sinister Magic, earlier this month, I was on pins and needles waiting for Val’s second outing to arrive on my ereader. And Battle Bond generally did not disappoint.
Even if I haven’t figured out the title yet. I’m saying that because I just realized what the “sinister magic” of the first title referred to. I wasn’t having much luck with understanding the series title either, until I read a bit of background posted on the author’s site and she explained it was all about Val’s perspective, that she would prefer to be dead rather than become a dragon’s pawn or thrall.
Not that she doesn’t keep ending up in just that position – but she gets better. Also her own personal dragon, while still copping a smug and superior attitude that should get him a slap upside the head, is, not exactly mellowing, but becoming a bit less unbearable.
Particularly in comparison to the dragon that has come to our Earth in order to bait, annoy and try to kill Val’s good frenemy, the dragon Zavryd. A dragon who really doesn’t like it when Val refers to him as Zav.
The story in Battle Bond picks up immediately after the ending of Sinister Magic. Val’s government boss is still recovering from the magical cancer that the dark elves infected her with, and Val is still driving the government loaner Jeep that she requisitioned after Zav threw her old Jeep into the upper branches of a very tall tree.
In this outing, Val’s cases, as is probably going to turn out to be usual for her, intersect with a vengeance. Also with actual vengeance.
A dragon has come to Earth to harass Zav, for reasons that will probably become clear later in the series when we – and Val – know a whole lot more about dragon politics back on Zav’s homeworld.
Meanwhile this dragon is kidnapping children. And hikers. And eventually taking over large but remote government compounds, all as part of a twisted desire to put Zav off his game so that he can be eliminated. Possibly eliminating Val along the way.
But Val also has a case that she is taking pro bono. Her friend and magical weapons supplier Nin is being harassed by a pride of big cat shifters who want to drive her out of business. If they put her in the ground as part of that driving out they really don’t care.
Val, however, cares a LOT. She just has to find a way to convince an entire pride of over a dozen members and growing – also growling, that Val AND Nin are not to be messed with. Possibly by messing with them – permanently. Whether she’s supposed to or not.
Both cases prove to Val that none of the things she thought she wrapped up at the end of the first book are remotely done with her yet. And that she’s going to be ass-deep in dark elves AND dragons for the foreseeable future.
If she has one.
Escape Rating B+: I really, really like Val as a character. She has all kinds of doubts and fears, making her very human in spite of her half-elven parentage. She’s also got some really interesting quirks and a seriously problematic Achilles heel. She’s far, far from perfect, and she’d be the first to admit it.
That she has a therapist who can’t help but remind her of all the ways she’s failing herself just adds to the portrait of the kickass heroine as a flawed human being – whether or not she’s only half-human.
For the most part, Battle Bond is at the same breakneck-pace-with-occasional-pauses as the first book in the series. Val’s world, the mixture of the magical and the mundane that she has to navigate, is complicated by its resemblance to the world we know. Finding out what makes it different among the sameness requires some tricky and time-consuming but pace-slowing worldbuilding. Something that I’m generally for and complain about when I don’t get so I’m happy to see that investment here at the beginning.
At the same time there’s still quite a bit of setup over the first half of the book. But once this one gets going – once all of Val’s ducks have been completely knocked out of alignment and all of her plans have been subjected to Murphy’s Law, the entire thing kicks into very high gear.
I want to say that Val leaps out of the frying pan into the fire, but that’s not strictly true. Val is trying to do the right thing under some very difficult constraints – especially the constraint that the government for the most part refuses to acknowledge that magic exists and therefore doesn’t have much of an arsenal for dealing with or recovering from it. And that her mandate is to eliminate the threat to the human population while the dragon Zav’s mandate is to punish and rehabilitate evildoers from his realm who have come to Earth. It’s more like Val leaps out of the frying pan and the fire just appears – over and over and over.
There is a sense that Val spends a lot of this story as a chew toy being fought over by two dragons who both think of her as a MUCH lesser being but are more than happy to use her for their own ends. And that in spite of her stated desire to die rather than become a dragon’s pawn, she spends a lot of this installment being just that.
She does get better. For the most part. But this book does hint at an eventual romance between Val and Zav, and I’ll admit that so far I’m not there for it. It’s going to take a LOT of this author’s generally excellent worldbuilding and character development to get me there.
But I’ll be back next month for the third book in the series, Tangled Truths, to see just how that turns out!
December 22, 2020
The plot has a weak point or two but the main thing is I don't care about what's going on. The 'bad guys' are boring, there's battle battle battle big deal. And enough with Val's snarky comments already! Usually, authors fill out a weak plot with stupid melodrama--here, the author's filled out a weak plot with zinger zinger zinger ad nauseum to where it's no longer amusing at all. It's like, grow up already.
However the book could have been redeamed by a lively romance, but that was not to be. The challenge handed off from the first book was how to bring Val and the dragon together. The author met the challenge poorly.
In Vol #1, the Dragon consitently expresses distaste for humans ("this planet's vermin"). Yet, in this book all of a sudden his attitude has moderated for no good reason at all. He may mouth those statements but they're hollow, pro forma.
True, he's accommodated Val a bit due to her value to his work but all of a sudden his whole tenor is more reasonable and approachable. Really jarring skip from one story to the next. Especially when she keeps showing moderate disrespect like a middle schooler, and he takes it.
Then, the author employs the infantile plot device of Val-comes-on-to-the-goodDragonMan-while-under-external-control-of-the-badDragonMan [insert make-out session]. But, worse, it's preceeded by the badDragonMan informing Val and the reader that, despite every previous indication, goodDragonMan actually does screw humans and is probably hot for her. Where did this come from? It completely negates all the distaste at the idea expressed by him in the first book.
Very weak.
However the book could have been redeamed by a lively romance, but that was not to be. The challenge handed off from the first book was how to bring Val and the dragon together. The author met the challenge poorly.
In Vol #1, the Dragon consitently expresses distaste for humans ("this planet's vermin"). Yet, in this book all of a sudden his attitude has moderated for no good reason at all. He may mouth those statements but they're hollow, pro forma.
True, he's accommodated Val a bit due to her value to his work but all of a sudden his whole tenor is more reasonable and approachable. Really jarring skip from one story to the next. Especially when she keeps showing moderate disrespect like a middle schooler, and he takes it.
Then, the author employs the infantile plot device of Val-comes-on-to-the-goodDragonMan-while-under-external-control-of-the-badDragonMan [insert make-out session]. But, worse, it's preceeded by the badDragonMan informing Val and the reader that, despite every previous indication, goodDragonMan actually does screw humans and is probably hot for her. Where did this come from? It completely negates all the distaste at the idea expressed by him in the first book.
Very weak.
August 4, 2020
DNF 48%
I'm really sorry to everyone that loved this series but there are far too many plot holes for me to ignore and I found myself getting more and more frustrated as I continued to try and read it. I enjoyed the snark between the characters but not enough to finish the book.
List of grievance with this series:
For an experience assassin, why does she go into every situation blind, no B and E, no trailing, no hacking....?
How does the supernatural world at large know a black ops assassin on sight and by her real name....? Also why would someone so hunted allow this and not use fake personal info in her day to day life?
How is it that he magical sword can slice through the barrel of a gun "like butter" but bounce of bone when fighting one shifter...? Is the bone density of the shifter higher then then steal and if so how?
Why is she not better at fighting or stronger? Val seems to get her ass handed to her more often then not with no explanation as to why or how and since she has managed to survive 20 years doing this an explanation is needed.
Also some magic in this world seems to be subject to the laws of physics, such as dragon flight and gravity, and some is not, like the change of the density of objects or people from one state to the next or how magic would hide a dragon in plain sight for the norms but not continue to do so when being photographed or video...?
Did Val get married under an assumed identity because if not then her marriage and birth of her child would be a matter of public record, making her self imposed distance meaningless *sigh*.
And how did the supernatural world become a known secret?
Mmm yep, not for me.
I'm really sorry to everyone that loved this series but there are far too many plot holes for me to ignore and I found myself getting more and more frustrated as I continued to try and read it. I enjoyed the snark between the characters but not enough to finish the book.
List of grievance with this series:
For an experience assassin, why does she go into every situation blind, no B and E, no trailing, no hacking....?
How does the supernatural world at large know a black ops assassin on sight and by her real name....? Also why would someone so hunted allow this and not use fake personal info in her day to day life?
How is it that he magical sword can slice through the barrel of a gun "like butter" but bounce of bone when fighting one shifter...? Is the bone density of the shifter higher then then steal and if so how?
Why is she not better at fighting or stronger? Val seems to get her ass handed to her more often then not with no explanation as to why or how and since she has managed to survive 20 years doing this an explanation is needed.
Also some magic in this world seems to be subject to the laws of physics, such as dragon flight and gravity, and some is not, like the change of the density of objects or people from one state to the next or how magic would hide a dragon in plain sight for the norms but not continue to do so when being photographed or video...?
Did Val get married under an assumed identity because if not then her marriage and birth of her child would be a matter of public record, making her self imposed distance meaningless *sigh*.
And how did the supernatural world become a known secret?
Mmm yep, not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
3.75
I found a couple of points in this one a little frustrating and not sure the resolution to some of the plot-points was as satisfying as the first book - lots of random threads are running through the books but you can see how they are probably all going to come together later on in the series, but I'm pretty impatient! Also I feel Val's frustration about her helplessness against the power of dragons.
Lindsay Buroker writes pretty good fight scenes, so I always enjoy those, and it ended pretty well - although I think I felt kind of conflicted along with Val about the outcome.
I'm loving the world she's created and the various characters. And the development of the relationship/not-relationship between Val & Zav is fun - looking forward to seeing where that goes.
Straight onto the next one!
I found a couple of points in this one a little frustrating and not sure the resolution to some of the plot-points was as satisfying as the first book - lots of random threads are running through the books but you can see how they are probably all going to come together later on in the series, but I'm pretty impatient! Also I feel Val's frustration about her helplessness against the power of dragons.
Lindsay Buroker writes pretty good fight scenes, so I always enjoy those, and it ended pretty well - although I think I felt kind of conflicted along with Val about the outcome.
I'm loving the world she's created and the various characters. And the development of the relationship/not-relationship between Val & Zav is fun - looking forward to seeing where that goes.
Straight onto the next one!
February 3, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Is it just me or are these books getting better and better? I don’t recommend anyone reading these books out of order. If you wanna enjoy them, start from the beginning. Zav and Val interacted a lot more in this one and while I absolutely adore Val’s banter with Sindari, her dialogue with Zav was phenomenal 🤩
I loved that Zav brought Val a poster of himself for her to throw axes at🤣 Even more so, I enjoyed how Val tried to explain modern lingo to him. Again, there was a lot of action. The plot was engaging and the world building, incredible. Could I love these books anymore? Probably…and I can’t wait to get to the rest.
CONTENT
Romance: Kissing, Innuendo throughout
Violence: Moderate (action packed but not too detailed/gruesome)
Language: Moderate (A**, S**t & variations, 2 F-bombs), some crude speech.
I loved that Zav brought Val a poster of himself for her to throw axes at🤣 Even more so, I enjoyed how Val tried to explain modern lingo to him. Again, there was a lot of action. The plot was engaging and the world building, incredible. Could I love these books anymore? Probably…and I can’t wait to get to the rest.
CONTENT
Romance: Kissing, Innuendo throughout
Violence: Moderate (action packed but not too detailed/gruesome)
Language: Moderate (A**, S**t & variations, 2 F-bombs), some crude speech.
February 28, 2023
Yep, just as I thought, this second book is quickly burrowing in and becoming a can’t-put-down series! Val and the rest of the characters are developing and deepening, while wrapping themselves around a reader’s heart. I actually hurt for the way the magical world treats Val when she is working so hard to keep everyone safe.
The action is awesome, as well! Lots of edge of your seat moments make for a page-turning good time. My very favorite part, and the main reason I am loving these books, though, is the quick-witted banter that imbues even the most hard and sometimes hurtful times with a lightness that makes one smile and enjoy. Again, the only downside is in the absence of any romantic thread. There is a spark igniting between Val and the dragon, Zav, but it is still just a small spark.
The action is awesome, as well! Lots of edge of your seat moments make for a page-turning good time. My very favorite part, and the main reason I am loving these books, though, is the quick-witted banter that imbues even the most hard and sometimes hurtful times with a lightness that makes one smile and enjoy. Again, the only downside is in the absence of any romantic thread. There is a spark igniting between Val and the dragon, Zav, but it is still just a small spark.
May 28, 2021
A new dragon has made Earth home, deciding to use Val as bait against the righteous dragon lord Zav. Val's arms dealer is under threat by a group of werewolves and Val decides to protect her with her characteristic death and mayhem.
The only thing that redeemed this book for me was the potential of a romance between smart-ass assassin Val and the dragon lord, Zav.
Besides that, the story reads like every other female-led urban fantasy novel filled with wise-cracking side-kick, action and adventure, and a superficial storyline. It was very anti-climatic for the .
Easily read and easily forgotten.
Only reading the next installation for the romance storyline.
The only thing that redeemed this book for me was the potential of a romance between smart-ass assassin Val and the dragon lord, Zav.
Besides that, the story reads like every other female-led urban fantasy novel filled with wise-cracking side-kick, action and adventure, and a superficial storyline. It was very anti-climatic for the .
Easily read and easily forgotten.
Only reading the next installation for the romance storyline.
August 31, 2020
This book is ok. Honestly, probably a 3 star read, but I've read a lot of books lately that I have been very passionate about and find a whole lot wrong with. This one lacked the passion, but there is no stupidity or plot forcing, so I am giving it 4 stars.
But. I could put it down. There is a lot or sarcasm, there is her partner the Tiger, there is a smexy dragon (or 2) and there is a friend. But, somehow, even though all the elements are there, I just didn't really care what happened. It seems to be very forthright in moving forward, but there just isn't a lot of relationship building. I miss that. There also isn't a huge mystery.
But, it was enjoyable.
But. I could put it down. There is a lot or sarcasm, there is her partner the Tiger, there is a smexy dragon (or 2) and there is a friend. But, somehow, even though all the elements are there, I just didn't really care what happened. It seems to be very forthright in moving forward, but there just isn't a lot of relationship building. I miss that. There also isn't a huge mystery.
But, it was enjoyable.
May 6, 2020
3.5 stars.
August 19, 2021
3.5 stars
Enjoyable story interrupted by non-con in the middle of the story when a rival dragon shows up and tries to force Val into kissing Lord Zav. I really did not enjoy that part of the story and it was not "cute" or "hot" in any way. To make matters worse, Val is already interested in Zav and this just makes things even more yukky.
[ETA 08/19/21] - There really should be a warning in the blurb about this bit of non-con for people who find such situations uncomfortable.
Enjoyable story interrupted by non-con in the middle of the story when a rival dragon shows up and tries to force Val into kissing Lord Zav. I really did not enjoy that part of the story and it was not "cute" or "hot" in any way. To make matters worse, Val is already interested in Zav and this just makes things even more yukky.
[ETA 08/19/21] - There really should be a warning in the blurb about this bit of non-con for people who find such situations uncomfortable.
September 11, 2023
The adventure continues with a broody, arrogant dragon and a wisecracking 1/2 elven assassin with a snarky tiger.
July 26, 2021
Death before dragons
I think I liked this one more than the first. I can not wait to see where the next one goes.
I think I liked this one more than the first. I can not wait to see where the next one goes.
April 26, 2021
Okay. Val and her chaos walking approach to life and other magical beings now has not one, but TWO dragons on her radar. Or maybe she's on their radar. Regardless, things are getting messier and she's smack-dab in the middle of it all.
She's also determined to help one of the few people in town who she considers a friend with her little werewolf problem. Which, actually, leads to more interactions with said dragons.
HA. Man, Val has a complicated, dangerous lifestyle.
On the plus side, she's making friends. She also has a dragon who seems to be coming around (somewhat) to her sass and sarcasm. That last part might be a slight overstatement. Zav still doesn't understand why Val doesn't give him the respect all other beings give dragons, but he's not getting incandescently angry whenever she talks back. Which is a start, at least.
So. Two dragons, double the problems. Magical friends, even more magical enemies, and a whole lot of trouble whenever Val turns around. GOOD TIMES!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
She's also determined to help one of the few people in town who she considers a friend with her little werewolf problem. Which, actually, leads to more interactions with said dragons.
HA. Man, Val has a complicated, dangerous lifestyle.
On the plus side, she's making friends. She also has a dragon who seems to be coming around (somewhat) to her sass and sarcasm. That last part might be a slight overstatement. Zav still doesn't understand why Val doesn't give him the respect all other beings give dragons, but he's not getting incandescently angry whenever she talks back. Which is a start, at least.
So. Two dragons, double the problems. Magical friends, even more magical enemies, and a whole lot of trouble whenever Val turns around. GOOD TIMES!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 12, 2020
This was another solid installment of the series. However, I am getting a little frustrated with how weak the heroine is compared to many (or most) of the baddies in this world. It makes you wonder how she's survived all this time, and how she's managed to kill rogue magical creatures before she managed to buy/win/steal the charms on her necklace. Hopefully, she'll figure some more things out and be a little less lame in the next book. Seriously, she shouldn't read as a lame character. She's supposed to be kicking butts and taking numbers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2021
Dear Ms Buroker, you've done it again! I stayed almost till dawn to finish this book in one go. I simply couldn't stop. Battle Bond has a full package - it's intense, funny (quirky?), bloody and... I've got the feeling a slow burn romance starts to blossom... At least, I hope so. Thank you for this sleepless night :D Waiting for a 3 book is going to be a torture... maybe re-reading the first two will ease my pain? ;)
April 6, 2020
Probably would have been four stars if not for So Many threats of sexual violence.
Light, action-oriented urban fantasy - with dragons! - for the most part. Then threats of sexual violence to... make the stakes seem higher? IDK. Some authors can include this content in a way that seems justified and compassionate, but Buroker isn't one of those authors. I wish she'd take a note from Ann Aguirre and just not.
Light, action-oriented urban fantasy - with dragons! - for the most part. Then threats of sexual violence to... make the stakes seem higher? IDK. Some authors can include this content in a way that seems justified and compassionate, but Buroker isn't one of those authors. I wish she'd take a note from Ann Aguirre and just not.
December 17, 2020
It is getting even better.
April 13, 2021
Val is a great heroine, and I love the "team" she has haphazardly assembled. Great read.
November 29, 2020
3.5/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Ce tome était vraiment sympa, avec des touches d’action mais aussi toujours les touches d’humour et la place importante des relations entre les différents personnages qui font la force de l’autrice.
Pour rappel dans l’imaginaire de cette série, les surnaturels viennent en fait d’autres mondes (multivers) auxquels la Terre est reliée, aucun n’est natif humain. Dans les autres mondes ce sont les dragons qui font la loi, mais la Terre étant le seul monde ou l’énergie magique n’existe quasiment pas, c’est un monde très peu peuplé de surnaturels. Même les dragons ont décidé de ne pas fréquenter car il les met mal à l’aise. En effet ils ne peuvent pas vraiment utiliser leurs pouvoir sur place, ce qui les rend faible et en risque d’être la cible de leurs ennemis d’ailleurs.
Niveau intrigue celle de ce tome ci commence de façon assez simple : L’héroïne, Val, enquête sur la disparition d’enfants dans un coin de campagne. Elle soupçonne des goblins d’être coupable même si elle ne comprend pas vraiment pourquoi ils auraient fait ça.
Arrivé sur place elle s’aperçoit que ce sont bien des goblins, mais ceux ci sont victime d’une compulsion mentale qui les oblige à obéir. En cherchant qui pouvait bien avoir mit cette compulsion, elle tombe sur un nouveau dragon …
Une fois de plus elle arrive à lui échapper en se cachant après avoir découvert son repaire et sauvé les enfants, mais elle a peur des conséquences. En effet il est évident que le dragon ne sera pas content qu’on lui ai piqué ses proies et il risque de se venger.
La seule solution qui lui vient à l’esprit serait d’arriver à contacter le dragon qu’elle avait rencontré dans le tome précédent, dont le but était louable (ramener les criminels dans son monde pour qu’ils subissent leur peine).
Mais elle n’a aucune idée de comment le contacter …
L’évolution des personnages avance petit à petit. Notamment Val qui maintenant qu’elle c’est rendu compte qu’elle était devenu le mouton noir des communautés surnaturelles, a décidé de tout faire pour réhabiliter son image. Du coup au lieu de toujours les considérer comme coupable dés le début, avec les preuves que son boulot lui a fourni, elle chercher à comprendre le pourquoi de la chose et éliminer la source du problème plutôt que sa partie la plus visible.
Elle c’est aussi mise à discuter avec eux, à leur demander leur avis sur la question. Bref, de moins en moins un travail de solitaire qui arrive, fait la « justice » expéditive et mortelle, et repart tout de suite après. En gros elle effectue un gros travail de relations publics en plus de son travail d’exécutrice, ce qui lui permet aussi d’expliquer aux populations ce qui ne se fait pas et pourquoi elle est obligé d’intervenir, et ainsi prévenir d’autres futurs problèmes. (vu que celles ci viennent d’autre monde elles n’ont des fois aucune idée des règles de vie humaines)
Franchement ce tome était très sympa. Je l’ai lu très rapidement et j’aime bien le coté multivers qui est mit en place. Bon c’est sur qu’on n’est pas sur de l’UF qui se démarque particulièrement dans l’ensemble ou qui est particulièrement originale, mais je trouve que cette série a quand même un petit plus grâce à la dynamique des relations ds personnages par rapport à toutes celles de la masse un peu moyenne du genre.
En tout cas je lirais la suite avec plaisir !
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Ce tome était vraiment sympa, avec des touches d’action mais aussi toujours les touches d’humour et la place importante des relations entre les différents personnages qui font la force de l’autrice.
Pour rappel dans l’imaginaire de cette série, les surnaturels viennent en fait d’autres mondes (multivers) auxquels la Terre est reliée, aucun n’est natif humain. Dans les autres mondes ce sont les dragons qui font la loi, mais la Terre étant le seul monde ou l’énergie magique n’existe quasiment pas, c’est un monde très peu peuplé de surnaturels. Même les dragons ont décidé de ne pas fréquenter car il les met mal à l’aise. En effet ils ne peuvent pas vraiment utiliser leurs pouvoir sur place, ce qui les rend faible et en risque d’être la cible de leurs ennemis d’ailleurs.
Niveau intrigue celle de ce tome ci commence de façon assez simple : L’héroïne, Val, enquête sur la disparition d’enfants dans un coin de campagne. Elle soupçonne des goblins d’être coupable même si elle ne comprend pas vraiment pourquoi ils auraient fait ça.
Arrivé sur place elle s’aperçoit que ce sont bien des goblins, mais ceux ci sont victime d’une compulsion mentale qui les oblige à obéir. En cherchant qui pouvait bien avoir mit cette compulsion, elle tombe sur un nouveau dragon …
Une fois de plus elle arrive à lui échapper en se cachant après avoir découvert son repaire et sauvé les enfants, mais elle a peur des conséquences. En effet il est évident que le dragon ne sera pas content qu’on lui ai piqué ses proies et il risque de se venger.
La seule solution qui lui vient à l’esprit serait d’arriver à contacter le dragon qu’elle avait rencontré dans le tome précédent, dont le but était louable (ramener les criminels dans son monde pour qu’ils subissent leur peine).
Mais elle n’a aucune idée de comment le contacter …
L’évolution des personnages avance petit à petit. Notamment Val qui maintenant qu’elle c’est rendu compte qu’elle était devenu le mouton noir des communautés surnaturelles, a décidé de tout faire pour réhabiliter son image. Du coup au lieu de toujours les considérer comme coupable dés le début, avec les preuves que son boulot lui a fourni, elle chercher à comprendre le pourquoi de la chose et éliminer la source du problème plutôt que sa partie la plus visible.
Elle c’est aussi mise à discuter avec eux, à leur demander leur avis sur la question. Bref, de moins en moins un travail de solitaire qui arrive, fait la « justice » expéditive et mortelle, et repart tout de suite après. En gros elle effectue un gros travail de relations publics en plus de son travail d’exécutrice, ce qui lui permet aussi d’expliquer aux populations ce qui ne se fait pas et pourquoi elle est obligé d’intervenir, et ainsi prévenir d’autres futurs problèmes. (vu que celles ci viennent d’autre monde elles n’ont des fois aucune idée des règles de vie humaines)
Franchement ce tome était très sympa. Je l’ai lu très rapidement et j’aime bien le coté multivers qui est mit en place. Bon c’est sur qu’on n’est pas sur de l’UF qui se démarque particulièrement dans l’ensemble ou qui est particulièrement originale, mais je trouve que cette série a quand même un petit plus grâce à la dynamique des relations ds personnages par rapport à toutes celles de la masse un peu moyenne du genre.
En tout cas je lirais la suite avec plaisir !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews