Kim McDougall

Well, Dragons Don't Eat Meat was fun. I'm putting the Valkyrie Bestiary series on the Books To Relax With shelf of my library.

I loved the tone of this book. It managed to generate suspense without becoming dark or angst-ridden and without degenerating into nothing more than lightweight banter. The action and the suspense amplified as the book went on, delivering real fight scenes in which some of the good guys die. The bad guys are unpleasant but have plausible motives.

The world the story show more took place in is well thought through. It's set in a near-future post-climate-change era with the human race vastly reduced in numbers and where magic has found its way back into the world. We have creatures I recognise the names of: dragons, vampires, fae, dervishes, gargoyles and Valkyrie (actually., only one Valkyrie - there's a backstory to that one) but each of them has been given a twist to deliver something new.

Our Valkyrie heroine tells the story with some humour, mostly rueful, avoiding outright snark and strutting badassery while still being strong, brave and just a little bit beset by circumstance. The tall, dark and potentially dangerous male lead is a gargoyle (gotta love a man who can turn parts of himself to stone at will - for fighting of course - but it's hard to hand out with a guy who turns to stone from dawn to dusk). The relationship between the two never devolved into insta-love or crossed over into new-adult gymnastics but did provide some tension and some emotional involvement.

Dragons Don't Eat Meat laid a good foundation for a series and still delivered a complete cliff-hanger-free novel.



It was also a great fit for the Cryptozoologist square on Halloween Bingo.





Kim McDougall was a new author for me, so I looked her up. I liked the way she described her work, labelling it as Supernatural Suspense. Here's how she defines it.

I write Supernatural Suspense as Kim McDougall and Paranormal Romance as Eliza Crowe. Paranormal Romance stories depend on the romance to carry the plot. Paranormal Suspense relies more on intrigue, mystery and the fantastic worlds I build (though there may still be some kissy-kissy stuff). 

Paranormal Romance doesn't do it for me but if Dragons Don't Eat Meat is the benchmark, then I'm a fan of Paranormal Suspense. There are four novels and three novellas in the Valkyrie Bestiary series, The second novel, Dervishes Don't Dance is already in the TBR pile. show less

Sad to say, I could not get into this one and found it rather boring. The issue lies in almost constant action before we get a chance to know the character or the world-building. There are new character types and their magic systems self-explained in almost every chapter in the middle of another struggle, battle, or dilemma. The relationship is already existing before we have a chance to get a sense of personality whatsover to the love interest; he seems rather flat to me and I don't get the show more appeal. Also, she's chasing him emotionally instead of the other way around, which I don't like. She has cute critters roaming around but again, they are numerous and there is a lot of info dump. The writing style is fine, and there is some humor, so those are perks, but this series isn't for me. show less

Kyra is a Valkyrie who runs a pest control business dealing with magical beasties. This time she has been called out to deal with three satyrs who are causing mischief at a school. But it turns out she might have to deal with something more difficult she soon learns. Maybe the mysterious man who turns up could be of assistance?

This was a cute story with a very likeable heroine. I liked the writing and the dialogue flowed easily.

I also loved the little octopus ,wich turns out to be a pygmy show more kraken

Will definetely pick up the next book in the series. Though this is just a prequel novella so the actual first book is [b:Dragons Don't Eat Meat|53341738|Dragons Don't Eat Meat (Valkyrie Bestiary #1)|Kim McDougall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588800610l/53341738._SY75_.jpg|82010274]

It has the same light style as [b:Discount Armageddon|11402002|Discount Armageddon (InCryptid, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1317332235l/11402002._SY75_.jpg|16334571] or [b:The Glass Gargoyle|25218665|The Glass Gargoyle (The Lost Ancients, #1)|Marie Andreas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1432206325l/25218665._SY75_.jpg|44760339] show less

Very short prequel to Dragons Don't Eat Meat that I read purely because of that cute squid on the cover. Turns out it is a pygmy Kraken!! Cuuuuuute. Main character is a Valkyrie who works in magical pest control. She lives with a banshee and has a budding romance with a gargoyle (he turns to stone during daylight which ngl sounds like a fantastic dating partner for introverts).