Book Review: Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
*I am sharing another of my Goodreads reviews here*
Why do I ever think a paranormal romance will ever be anything but awkward sex scenes tethered together by a thin line of plot? This book started out as interesting as the blurb of a summary suggested it would be but quickly degenerated once the romantic pairing was consummated.

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Allow me to provide a little context for my brief but vehement rant. I personally prefer a good book set in a well crafted world with quirky characters and a plot that has enough action to keep it interesting during the moments of character development and world building and spiced with a small element of romance. I usually read urban fantasy series for fun. I also love to read a good epic fiction series too but lately it seems my mind has been choosing simpler reads for its down time (I blame all the dry reading I am doing for school). I have been reading YA paranormal for a few years now too because I find that too many books with a romantic element in the adult version dips too heavily from the Laurel K. Hamilton pond (in case you don't get this reference, Hamilton's Anita Blake series started out very strong but after book 4 or 5 the sex scenes ate the plot).

I used to read full out romance novels when I was in my early teens. I was fond of the historical romance genre (I read Robert Jordan's historical romance written under the pen name of Regan O'Neal before I read the Wheel of Time series). The novelty of reading something I was not allowed to read glossed over the formulaic plots and all the cheesy "heaving breasts and throbbing manhood" lines. As with most things new and forbidden, the novelty wore off and I moved onto different genres.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a prude. I don't mind a really steamy sex scene or two in a book but only if they are written well. Most are not. Let's face it, most sexual encounters are awkward to begin with once you put them into words, so it is not surprising that few writers master describing the deed with any sort of skill. Now these statements are very obviously my own personal opinion on the romance genre. I understand that I am not the norm for which all must be measured against and my opinion does not represent what mainstream female readers like and desire. Proof of this lies in the sales for books like Dragon Actually (Laurel K. Hamilton is a very rich woman from her Anita Blake series and has many loyal and rabid fans who will drop what they are doing to defend their favorite author in a heartbeat). Take a look at the statistics on the RWA's (Romance Writers of America) website to see what I mean about mainstream opinion. Clearly romance novels are the norm.

So with this background information in place, let me tell you one more thing. Every now and again I see a summary for a romance novel (usually paranormal) that catches my attention. The plot sounds complex enough to be the main focus of the book and the characters sound down right interesting. Interest piqued, I pick up the book and think that this might be one of those few romances that are balanced and well written. I am usually proven wrong. I loathe that I was suckered in against my better judgement and end up frustrated with the book because it turns out to be everything I did not want it to be (formulaic, shallow plot, shallow characters that do mirror time as a Mary Jane, and every other page filled with awkward sex scenes with trite cliches peppering the text). This was the case with Dragon Actually.

There are some exceptions, even for the ones that lack the balance of plot and sex scenes. I have enjoyed a few romances series that had characters that were well developed enough that I cared to follow their story even through the multitude of awkward sex scenes. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series is one example of this type. There are also the few books that embrace their cheesy nature and temper the tone with lots of humor. In fact, I recently read one of this type of exception and will review it here soon.

Bookreview: The Huaca by Marcia Mickelson

I was very impressed by Marcia Mickelson's new book, The Huaca. When I first read its description, I thought that the paranormal elements would capture a large portion of the plot line. I was wrong. The main story is about how one young girl changes and begins to grow into a young woman in the year after her mother's death.

When we first meet Ellie, she is worrying over the potential loss of her best friend. She was nearly hallowed out by her mother's murder and has just become used to the new pattern of her life. The threat of more loss and change weigh's her down after an argument with Sarah, her once inseparable childhood friend. With Sarah and her other friends shunning her out of fear of damage to their own social standing, Ellie finds herself untethered, alone, and longing for a life that once was.

Enter Gabe De La Cruz, the school outcast and town weirdo. Gabe has a secret and he also has a longing of his own. After Ellie's dispatch from the popular crowd, Gabe is quick to befriend her. So quick in fact, that sometimes Ellie worries he has bewitched her. However, Gabe's friendship comes with more than the gift of companionship, it also comes with the promise of dreams fulfilled. But it is not long before Ellie has to wonder about the price those gifts may cost her in the long run.

Mickelson crafts a wonderful tale full of betrayal, loss, mystery, and love.

Things I liked...

• In the first half of the book, Mickelson introduces us to Ellie's world completely. The action in the first half of the book is primarily character driven. This time spent learning about the main character, her school routine, her family life, and her altered social life allows the reader to settle into the world fully.

• Ellie's emotional journey. Ellie is a dynamic character. I know, an actual dynamic character in a YA novel. Amazing. At the end of the book, she is not just the same person in a different situation. She has learned things about herself, her friends, what really matters in life, and what she has learned changes her perspective.

• The paranormal aspect of the story was not about vampires, werewolves, witches, or any of the other usual suspects. The Huaca has a spiritual element rooted in, well, spirituality. It delves into the possible world brought to us by belief, faith, and tradition. It reminds us that other belief systems are just as valid as the dominant Judea-Christian belief system.

Things I was less fond of...

• A change in pacing of the storyline. While the first part of the book was not paced too slowly, the world was carefully built. The characters were well developed and fleshed out, details were highlighted and foreshadowing occurred. This type of exposition does not work well when rushed. And Mickelson does do it well. However, when the turning point comes, the change in pace in narration makes it feel like the reader is being hurried to the conclusion. Of course, the turning point is the most action driven part of the story, so a change in tempo is not unexpected.

•  There was not as much suspense or mystery as I thought there would be. Plenty of tension but very little suspense. Mickelson does compensate for this perceived lack by exploring the emotional turmoil Ellie experiences at this point in the storyline and the impact the revelation will have on her life.

Overall, I really liked Mickelson's new novel. I will be sure to pick up some of her other books in the future. I would recommend this to any fan of YA and probably to some who are not fans of the genre.

ISBN-13: 9781462111909

P.S. You can find out more about the author at her own blog, Marcia Mickelson.