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For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret—and their survival—is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary. . . .Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confounding the London police. His wealthy victims claim the master burglar can walk through walls and vanish into show more thin air. But Christoff, the charismatic Marquess of Langford, knows the truth: the thief is no ordinary human but a “runner” who’s fled Darkfrith without permission. As Alpha leader of the dra´kon, it’s Kit’s duty to capture the fugitive before the secrets of the tribe are revealed to mortals. But not even Kit suspects that the Smoke Thief could be a woman.
Clarissa Rue Hawthorne knew her dangerous exploits would attract the attention of the dra´kon. But she didn’t expect Christoff himself to come to London, dangling the tribe’s most valuable jewel–the Langford Diamond–as bait. For as long as she could remember, Rue had lived the life of a halfling–half dra´kon, half mortal–and an outcast in both worlds. She’d always loved the handsome and willful Kit from the only place it was safe: from afar. But now she was no longer the shy, timid girl she’d once been. She was the first woman capable of making the Turn in four generations. So why did she still feel the same dizzying sense of vulnerability whenever he was near?
From the moment he saw her, Kit knew that the alluring and powerful beauty was every bit his Alpha equal and destined to be his bride. And by the harsh laws of the dra´kon, Rue knew that she was the property of the marquess. But they will risk banishment and worse for a chance at something greater. For now Rue is his prisoner, the diamond has disappeared, and she’s made the kind of dangerous proposition a man like Kit cannot resist. . . .
In this bewitching novel, Shana Abé transports us into a world of exhilarating romance and magic. show less
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Wow… on so many levels!! Wow!!!
This is an adult book. I didn’t realize when I started it, but learned quickly as the dragons materialize into human form… um… very naked. One smokin’ hot naked guy hunting down an alpha female, a hot smokin’ naked girl… creeping down through a tight space in a bell tower… results in some very hot moments. *blush* In, um, detail.
Besides that… because of that… or in spite of that… I couldn’t put this book down. Shana Abe’s writing is so fantastically fluid. Her world of dragons has just enough instinct infused with glorious humanity to be beautiful, sensual, uninhibited.
Everything happens quickly. Christoff is attracted to Rue on many levels. The dragon in him is fierce and show more protective, territorial. I got the impression that he had mountains of self-control forcing himself to respect her.
And she… she has so many opinions and plans. She loves her freedom and fights against the dragon system. Clarissa Rue is so smart and impetuous. I really love her, love being her. She’s brave and quick-witted.
Her nickname may be “Little Mouse” but the most endearing part about that is how it doesn’t fit her outward appearance. There’s a hidden inner part of her soul that he sees and calls out as “mouse” and that vulnerability is reflected again in him. He is a little mouse to her in the same way.
As an introduction into the world of dragons and their love of stones… and their fear of discovery, this is a great story. I felt like I learned so much so quickly and then the story ended… and I was far from ready to be done with Shana Abe’s world. I immediately procured book 2 and dived right back in, “adult” and all.
My Rating: 4.75 - I love Rue... I love Christoff... I love the world - they all get 5's for me!! The romance is HOT and completely logical. I don't really read adult romance so I have no scale to base this on, but for supporting scene construction, etc, I want to give the romance at least a 4.5. (I dock it a .5 for a tiny bit of predictability.) There's insta-love, which I don't mind if there's enough support to the situation. In this case, it's Alpha meets Alpha = BANG! Since their characters are so amazing and compatible in a fiesty way, I loved how it worked out, but there was more insta than I wanted to swallow... which might have been Rue fighting it (go girl!), so I'm not dockin' much for that. I really enjoyed this book!! :-D
The cover - I'm not into this cover. In fact, I was really surprised when I first saw it at how quiet it is and it took me longer to read this book because The Sweetest Dark is so beautiful and this cover tells me nothing about what's inside. The biggest draw for me was the title... I have a thing for thieves (after The Thief, who wouldn't?!) and I love Abe's writing style, so I read this despite the cover. show less
This is an adult book. I didn’t realize when I started it, but learned quickly as the dragons materialize into human form… um… very naked. One smokin’ hot naked guy hunting down an alpha female, a hot smokin’ naked girl… creeping down through a tight space in a bell tower… results in some very hot moments. *blush* In, um, detail.
Besides that… because of that… or in spite of that… I couldn’t put this book down. Shana Abe’s writing is so fantastically fluid. Her world of dragons has just enough instinct infused with glorious humanity to be beautiful, sensual, uninhibited.
Everything happens quickly. Christoff is attracted to Rue on many levels. The dragon in him is fierce and show more protective, territorial. I got the impression that he had mountains of self-control forcing himself to respect her.
And she… she has so many opinions and plans. She loves her freedom and fights against the dragon system. Clarissa Rue is so smart and impetuous. I really love her, love being her. She’s brave and quick-witted.
Her nickname may be “Little Mouse” but the most endearing part about that is how it doesn’t fit her outward appearance. There’s a hidden inner part of her soul that he sees and calls out as “mouse” and that vulnerability is reflected again in him. He is a little mouse to her in the same way.
As an introduction into the world of dragons and their love of stones… and their fear of discovery, this is a great story. I felt like I learned so much so quickly and then the story ended… and I was far from ready to be done with Shana Abe’s world. I immediately procured book 2 and dived right back in, “adult” and all.
My Rating: 4.75 - I love Rue... I love Christoff... I love the world - they all get 5's for me!! The romance is HOT and completely logical. I don't really read adult romance so I have no scale to base this on, but for supporting scene construction, etc, I want to give the romance at least a 4.5. (I dock it a .5 for a tiny bit of predictability.) There's insta-love, which I don't mind if there's enough support to the situation. In this case, it's Alpha meets Alpha = BANG! Since their characters are so amazing and compatible in a fiesty way, I loved how it worked out, but there was more insta than I wanted to swallow... which might have been Rue fighting it (go girl!), so I'm not dockin' much for that. I really enjoyed this book!! :-D
The cover - I'm not into this cover. In fact, I was really surprised when I first saw it at how quiet it is and it took me longer to read this book because The Sweetest Dark is so beautiful and this cover tells me nothing about what's inside. The biggest draw for me was the title... I have a thing for thieves (after The Thief, who wouldn't?!) and I love Abe's writing style, so I read this despite the cover. show less
This was a beautifully written and captivating book, but don't be fooled by the reviews that say this book crosses genres. This book is a romance. There are some fantasy elements, but this book is without a doubt a romance.
The books starts in one of the lost cities of the drakon where we meet an outcast half-breed named Clarissa and the marquess Christoff. The book then jumps 15 years later to deal with a young lady named Rue who is the Smoke Thief. The prologue is amazing, the rest of the book is just your standard romance.
Much to my disappointment minimal time is spent on the Smoke Thief's antics. Almost immediately Christoff enters the picture and begins to woo Rue. Here starts your very typical romance type of plot. Rue is willful, show more Christoff loves her but is too overbearing and controlling, Rue struggles with her attraction to Christoff. I won't spoil the outcome but if you know the typical outcome of an alpha male type romance then you already know this story.
Despite the above complaint it is a very well-written story. It is a beautiful love story. There is some action but I found the action scenes to be far and few; this may have been a blessing in disguise because action scenes do not seem to be the author's strong point. Abe is very adept at writing about lush surroundings and beautiful descriptions. Her love scenes are magically written and well done. If you like Victorian style romances this is definitely the book for you.
Overall I liked the story and it was a quick read. I was pulled right through it from beginning to end. I guess I just felt a bit misled from what I have heard about this being a magical fantasy novel. There is a touch of that but it does not by any means dominate the love story. I'll repeat one more time, this is a romance...a beautifully written and lush romance.
I have the second book from this author which is called The Dream Thief. It looks like this second book deals with some of the side characters from the first. I am still looking forward to reading it but I don't know that I will read many of the books beyond this one. show less
The books starts in one of the lost cities of the drakon where we meet an outcast half-breed named Clarissa and the marquess Christoff. The book then jumps 15 years later to deal with a young lady named Rue who is the Smoke Thief. The prologue is amazing, the rest of the book is just your standard romance.
Much to my disappointment minimal time is spent on the Smoke Thief's antics. Almost immediately Christoff enters the picture and begins to woo Rue. Here starts your very typical romance type of plot. Rue is willful, show more Christoff loves her but is too overbearing and controlling, Rue struggles with her attraction to Christoff. I won't spoil the outcome but if you know the typical outcome of an alpha male type romance then you already know this story.
Despite the above complaint it is a very well-written story. It is a beautiful love story. There is some action but I found the action scenes to be far and few; this may have been a blessing in disguise because action scenes do not seem to be the author's strong point. Abe is very adept at writing about lush surroundings and beautiful descriptions. Her love scenes are magically written and well done. If you like Victorian style romances this is definitely the book for you.
Overall I liked the story and it was a quick read. I was pulled right through it from beginning to end. I guess I just felt a bit misled from what I have heard about this being a magical fantasy novel. There is a touch of that but it does not by any means dominate the love story. I'll repeat one more time, this is a romance...a beautifully written and lush romance.
I have the second book from this author which is called The Dream Thief. It looks like this second book deals with some of the side characters from the first. I am still looking forward to reading it but I don't know that I will read many of the books beyond this one. show less
TST takes place in Georgian England and tells the story of drákons, shapeshifting creatures who live in secret in the beautiful Darkfrith valley in northern England. These creatures have the ability to shapeshift from human to smoke to dragon and back again. For centuries they have lived by a very strict set of rules. One of these rules is that no one is allowed to live outside their valley. Clarissa Rue Hawthorne is part mortal and part drákon and because of her mixed blood is made to feel like an outcast because she is different. On her 17th birthday she fakes her own drowning in order to start a new life free from prejudice.
Some years later the Council of Darkfrith is alerted to rumors that a jewel thief in London can disappear show more into smoke. They realize that this was not a human but another 'runner' who has escaped from Darkfrith without permission. The continued existence of their people and its traditions relies on their secrecy so they want the drákon runner captured immediately. Their Alpha leader, Christoff 'Kit' Ellery, Marquess of Langford, travels to London to hunt down the runner and brings the Herte diamond to use as bait for his trap. To his amazement he discovers that the runner is an Alpha female who can Turn (change from human to dragon), a phenomenon that has not happened in four generations.
TST was a totally engrossing book that I found impossible to put down. I had my nose in the book constantly and Bob was having a harder than usual time getting my attention. :) One of my problems with fantasy is there is usually too much world building and too many weird names and places. But there was NONE of that here. The world building was minor and very subtle and the names and places were 'normal'.
The plot was fascinating and inventive and the characters were fully drawn. Clarissa was a wonderfully strong heroine and a perfect match for Kit. But I did have a problem with Kit at first. He was so overly Alpha that I wanted to strangle him. When he finds out the Smoke Thief is female he is determined to have her at any cost. He lies and cheats and manipulates her so he can drag her back to Darkfrith against her will. But before he can do that they work together to solve a minor mystery and he grows to love her. The sensuality was hot and intense and the imagery of their flights together was beautifully breathtaking. I think AAR's reviewer, Lynn, had a problem with the ending, but I bought it completely. I found Kit's change of character very believable giving TST a terrific ending. (Grade: B+) show less
Some years later the Council of Darkfrith is alerted to rumors that a jewel thief in London can disappear show more into smoke. They realize that this was not a human but another 'runner' who has escaped from Darkfrith without permission. The continued existence of their people and its traditions relies on their secrecy so they want the drákon runner captured immediately. Their Alpha leader, Christoff 'Kit' Ellery, Marquess of Langford, travels to London to hunt down the runner and brings the Herte diamond to use as bait for his trap. To his amazement he discovers that the runner is an Alpha female who can Turn (change from human to dragon), a phenomenon that has not happened in four generations.
TST was a totally engrossing book that I found impossible to put down. I had my nose in the book constantly and Bob was having a harder than usual time getting my attention. :) One of my problems with fantasy is there is usually too much world building and too many weird names and places. But there was NONE of that here. The world building was minor and very subtle and the names and places were 'normal'.
The plot was fascinating and inventive and the characters were fully drawn. Clarissa was a wonderfully strong heroine and a perfect match for Kit. But I did have a problem with Kit at first. He was so overly Alpha that I wanted to strangle him. When he finds out the Smoke Thief is female he is determined to have her at any cost. He lies and cheats and manipulates her so he can drag her back to Darkfrith against her will. But before he can do that they work together to solve a minor mystery and he grows to love her. The sensuality was hot and intense and the imagery of their flights together was beautifully breathtaking. I think AAR's reviewer, Lynn, had a problem with the ending, but I bought it completely. I found Kit's change of character very believable giving TST a terrific ending. (Grade: B+) show less
My biggest issue with this book was that it was a paperback! You know you are addicted to your ereader when this is your problem ;)
I loved the 'aggressiveness' of both MCs - they knew their minds and they both managed their lives without (or limited) reference to others. That's a great role model for either sex; and set in 1751 - even better!
I liked the chase - for the diamond, the runner and the girl. Plenty of friction; plenty of action.
The sex scenes (not too many of them thank heavens) were well written - they were not extensive or too heavy but had a great feel, with both Rue and Kit well portrayed and solidly engaged. I'm not sure how to describe this - but I think it was that the scenes were written with feeling rather than a show more 'paint by number' or 'checklist' approach that happens all too often in romance novels.
In terms of a historical novel (which I have to admit to being disillusioned with), this was a clear winner for me. show less
I loved the 'aggressiveness' of both MCs - they knew their minds and they both managed their lives without (or limited) reference to others. That's a great role model for either sex; and set in 1751 - even better!
I liked the chase - for the diamond, the runner and the girl. Plenty of friction; plenty of action.
The sex scenes (not too many of them thank heavens) were well written - they were not extensive or too heavy but had a great feel, with both Rue and Kit well portrayed and solidly engaged. I'm not sure how to describe this - but I think it was that the scenes were written with feeling rather than a show more 'paint by number' or 'checklist' approach that happens all too often in romance novels.
In terms of a historical novel (which I have to admit to being disillusioned with), this was a clear winner for me. show less
I expected to like this book when I read the blurbs in my Sci-fi/Fantasy book club pamphlet. But then I read the prologue, and I wasn’t sure. The style of the prologue is nice, but a bit omniscient for my tastes. And then I read the first chapter. And I was hooked.
I guess it makes sense that the prologue is more omniscient than I generally like, since it’s giving the rather long background of a mythical people. These people, the drakon, are magical beings. (And I feel really stupid for not reading it aloud and realizing early on in the book that “drakon” = “dragon”. I thought they were just similar.) The drakon are very good at adapting to avoid persecution, and when the story starts their rulers are concerned that they have show more gotten *too* good at it. None of the females can Turn. (From human to dragon. They have both forms, as well as an in-between one: smoke.)
(The book is set in 18th century England, in a world that has magic without realizing it. The drakon value their secrecy, and the average Londoner has no clue the dragons exist. For a casual observer - me - it all stands up nicely to reality. For a history major, who knows?)
Over the course of the book, we follow the hero, Kit, and the heroine, Rue. They both have to learn how to deal with another Alpha - Kit, as the ruler of the drakon, is the Alpha male; Rue, as the only female who can Turn, by default becomes the Alpha female. Some of the happenings in the book (like the identity of the Smoke Thief and the happy ending) come as no surprise. However, the wonderful voice that Shana uses to tell the story makes the obvious parts of the plot very enjoyable, and there are still twists that have the potential to confuse.
I’m very glad there’s a sequel. I can’t wait to read more. show less
I guess it makes sense that the prologue is more omniscient than I generally like, since it’s giving the rather long background of a mythical people. These people, the drakon, are magical beings. (And I feel really stupid for not reading it aloud and realizing early on in the book that “drakon” = “dragon”. I thought they were just similar.) The drakon are very good at adapting to avoid persecution, and when the story starts their rulers are concerned that they have show more gotten *too* good at it. None of the females can Turn. (From human to dragon. They have both forms, as well as an in-between one: smoke.)
(The book is set in 18th century England, in a world that has magic without realizing it. The drakon value their secrecy, and the average Londoner has no clue the dragons exist. For a casual observer - me - it all stands up nicely to reality. For a history major, who knows?)
Over the course of the book, we follow the hero, Kit, and the heroine, Rue. They both have to learn how to deal with another Alpha - Kit, as the ruler of the drakon, is the Alpha male; Rue, as the only female who can Turn, by default becomes the Alpha female. Some of the happenings in the book (like the identity of the Smoke Thief and the happy ending) come as no surprise. However, the wonderful voice that Shana uses to tell the story makes the obvious parts of the plot very enjoyable, and there are still twists that have the potential to confuse.
I’m very glad there’s a sequel. I can’t wait to read more. show less
They sneaked Shana Abé’s Smoke Thief by me in the fantasy section – had it been where it (sort of) properly belonged, in with the romances, I would never have cracked the cover. But it was in fantasy, and had a great title, and the premise – a (beautiful, of course) young woman making her unique way in Georgian London as a jewel thief, who apparently steals the wrong jewel and is stalked by the (handsome, of course) owner – sounded like fun. I like charming and accomplished fictional thieves. Case in point: John Robie.
And now Rue, the heroine of Smoke Thief. I hated the historical-recap beginning; it bordered on purple, and is why I had as much trouble as I did getting into the story. But it’s fairly necessary information, show more and soon over, followed by another vignette closer in time to the story, nicely showing the youth of and demonstrating the difficulties for the two main characters.
And then we’re off at the gallop into the story, in which Clarissa Hawthorne has escaped a miserable childhood as a half-breed in a society which does not tolerate half-breeds. She comes from a small, secret English village which is held by the drákon, who once were purely draconian in form and function but who have adapted to their perilous existence by learning human form. Appearance of humanity isn’t acceptance of humanity, though – they are, of course, far superior to mere humans, and any intermingling of the races leads to, at best, ostracism for all concerned. But it is generally held to be better to remain in the village as a despised adjunct to the clan than to flee the village and be hunted down and executed – because only the highest ranking of the drákon are allowed to leave, for fear of exposure.
Except Clarissa has left, and is living the life she wants as Rue. Until the Right Honourable Christoff René Ellery Langford, Earl of Chasen (aka Kit) shows up … He is the head of the tribe, and is responsible for a) retrieving the jewel stolen from the tribe (jewels having a similar effect on the drákon to drugs), and b) retrieving this person who somehow escaped from the tribe’s strictures. When he finds out that the runner in question is a woman, and one who can successfully change shape, the priorities shift. Centuries after they learned to take human shape, the drákon are finding it more difficult to shake it off: men normally grow into the ability to change their form to smoke and to drákon (dragon), but women seem to be losing the knack – and the head of the tribe must mate with a woman who can shift.
Enter the romance portion of our story. It’s a different twist on a classic romance theme – two (excessively beautiful) people who are going to marry (and, er, etc.) whether they both like it or not – and Rue very much doesn’t. Except when she does. She loved Kit when they were both children, but she was (almost) beneath his notice; now she hates and fears the idea of being dragged back to the village and forced to – best case scenario – go back to the restricted life she once had … and, worst case, face imprisonment or execution. She’s forced into the union – but she likes it. And happily ever etc. Classic romance.
But it was really not bad at all. Some of the writing rose above what I expect of a romance, certainly, and even what I expect of a fantasy novel; the characters were believable and not paper cutouts. I liked the conception of the drákon and how they were integrated into what would otherwise be a well-written romance novel – it takes it off the romance shelf in my library (which actually is just a shameful little section of “fiction”) and moves it, as Books & Co had it, firmly into fantasy.
There are sequels; I probably won’t buy them new (sorry), but will at some point when I don’t feel like I’ve spent an absurd amount of money on myself put some effort into finding the ones I don’t have (one was at a library sale last year – yay). What I wonder is whether there is so very much of a subgenre of romances with such strong fantasy elements. I know there are lots – and lots – AND lots of vampires out there, but this … this was different. I liked this. show less
And now Rue, the heroine of Smoke Thief. I hated the historical-recap beginning; it bordered on purple, and is why I had as much trouble as I did getting into the story. But it’s fairly necessary information, show more and soon over, followed by another vignette closer in time to the story, nicely showing the youth of and demonstrating the difficulties for the two main characters.
And then we’re off at the gallop into the story, in which Clarissa Hawthorne has escaped a miserable childhood as a half-breed in a society which does not tolerate half-breeds. She comes from a small, secret English village which is held by the drákon, who once were purely draconian in form and function but who have adapted to their perilous existence by learning human form. Appearance of humanity isn’t acceptance of humanity, though – they are, of course, far superior to mere humans, and any intermingling of the races leads to, at best, ostracism for all concerned. But it is generally held to be better to remain in the village as a despised adjunct to the clan than to flee the village and be hunted down and executed – because only the highest ranking of the drákon are allowed to leave, for fear of exposure.
Except Clarissa has left, and is living the life she wants as Rue. Until the Right Honourable Christoff René Ellery Langford, Earl of Chasen (aka Kit) shows up … He is the head of the tribe, and is responsible for a) retrieving the jewel stolen from the tribe (jewels having a similar effect on the drákon to drugs), and b) retrieving this person who somehow escaped from the tribe’s strictures. When he finds out that the runner in question is a woman, and one who can successfully change shape, the priorities shift. Centuries after they learned to take human shape, the drákon are finding it more difficult to shake it off: men normally grow into the ability to change their form to smoke and to drákon (dragon), but women seem to be losing the knack – and the head of the tribe must mate with a woman who can shift.
Enter the romance portion of our story. It’s a different twist on a classic romance theme – two (excessively beautiful) people who are going to marry (and, er, etc.) whether they both like it or not – and Rue very much doesn’t. Except when she does. She loved Kit when they were both children, but she was (almost) beneath his notice; now she hates and fears the idea of being dragged back to the village and forced to – best case scenario – go back to the restricted life she once had … and, worst case, face imprisonment or execution. She’s forced into the union – but she likes it. And happily ever etc. Classic romance.
But it was really not bad at all. Some of the writing rose above what I expect of a romance, certainly, and even what I expect of a fantasy novel; the characters were believable and not paper cutouts. I liked the conception of the drákon and how they were integrated into what would otherwise be a well-written romance novel – it takes it off the romance shelf in my library (which actually is just a shameful little section of “fiction”) and moves it, as Books & Co had it, firmly into fantasy.
There are sequels; I probably won’t buy them new (sorry), but will at some point when I don’t feel like I’ve spent an absurd amount of money on myself put some effort into finding the ones I don’t have (one was at a library sale last year – yay). What I wonder is whether there is so very much of a subgenre of romances with such strong fantasy elements. I know there are lots – and lots – AND lots of vampires out there, but this … this was different. I liked this. show less
From the Inside Flap:
Only a man who was pure magic could catch her...
For centuries they've lived in secret among northern England's green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret - and their survival - is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary...
My Review:
The story begins with a dramatic and lyrical telling of the legend of the drakon. It's really very beautifuly written and really draws the reader into a seductive world of mist and magic.
"This was the legacy the drakon had left behind with their castle: one son and one daughter, and from them generations of new life to dwell amid the mist show more and haunt the Others below, until they learned the secrets of their enemies. Until they learned to become them...to look as they did, to breathe and eat and speak as they did. To plod the earth as the Others did, all the while hiding their true faces, their true hearts."
In eighteenth-century England, a rare breed of creature, the drakon, struggles to stay true to the old ways of their race while avoiding detection in an increasingly modern world. Very few are permitted to leave the boundaries of their secluded shire, but when reports of a bold jewel thief in London with unique talents that cause the press to dub him The Smoke Thief, reach the Elder Council, the drakon realize that someone has escaped them. Christoff "Kit" Langford, Earl of Chasen and leader of the drakon, sets out on a risky mission to use the clan's Herte diamond to lure the thief into a trap to be transported back to the shire for punishment. But Kit's in for a surprise, for the Smoke Thief is not a man at all, but a woman - and one he never thought to see again.
When Rue Hawthorne discovered at the age of seventeen that she posessed a talent no other female drakon had ever had before, she faked her death to escape the restrictions of the shire. She's boldly lived among humans ever since, testing the limits of her powers, but she's about to take one step too far, and the consequences could prove to be disastrous to the secret clan of the ancient drakon. When the Herte disappears, Rue is forced to help Kit track it down. Though she doesn't trust him, she can't deny her attraction to him or the power of the bond that grows between them as they endanger themselves in an effort to protect the clan.
This is a sexy and imaginative tale of romance and adventure. I've read shape-shifting dragon stories by several other authors, and The Smoke Thief is a stand-out among them, seamlessly blending a tale of old-world magic with eighteenth-century London society. Elegantly written, smart, sensous and highly recommended. show less
Only a man who was pure magic could catch her...
For centuries they've lived in secret among northern England's green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret - and their survival - is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary...
My Review:
The story begins with a dramatic and lyrical telling of the legend of the drakon. It's really very beautifuly written and really draws the reader into a seductive world of mist and magic.
"This was the legacy the drakon had left behind with their castle: one son and one daughter, and from them generations of new life to dwell amid the mist show more and haunt the Others below, until they learned the secrets of their enemies. Until they learned to become them...to look as they did, to breathe and eat and speak as they did. To plod the earth as the Others did, all the while hiding their true faces, their true hearts."
In eighteenth-century England, a rare breed of creature, the drakon, struggles to stay true to the old ways of their race while avoiding detection in an increasingly modern world. Very few are permitted to leave the boundaries of their secluded shire, but when reports of a bold jewel thief in London with unique talents that cause the press to dub him The Smoke Thief, reach the Elder Council, the drakon realize that someone has escaped them. Christoff "Kit" Langford, Earl of Chasen and leader of the drakon, sets out on a risky mission to use the clan's Herte diamond to lure the thief into a trap to be transported back to the shire for punishment. But Kit's in for a surprise, for the Smoke Thief is not a man at all, but a woman - and one he never thought to see again.
When Rue Hawthorne discovered at the age of seventeen that she posessed a talent no other female drakon had ever had before, she faked her death to escape the restrictions of the shire. She's boldly lived among humans ever since, testing the limits of her powers, but she's about to take one step too far, and the consequences could prove to be disastrous to the secret clan of the ancient drakon. When the Herte disappears, Rue is forced to help Kit track it down. Though she doesn't trust him, she can't deny her attraction to him or the power of the bond that grows between them as they endanger themselves in an effort to protect the clan.
This is a sexy and imaginative tale of romance and adventure. I've read shape-shifting dragon stories by several other authors, and The Smoke Thief is a stand-out among them, seamlessly blending a tale of old-world magic with eighteenth-century London society. Elegantly written, smart, sensous and highly recommended. show less
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Author Information
24 Works 5,777 Members
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Smoke Thief
- Original title
- The Smoke Thief
- Original publication date
- 2005-09-27
- People/Characters
- Clarissa Rue Hawthorne; Christoff Langford Marquess of Langford; Zane Lalonde; Parrish Grady
- Important places
- London, England, UK; Darkfrith, England, UK; Carpathian Mountains
- Dedication
- For Mom and Dad, always and ever.
A book is just a dream, without pushing and prodding and heaps of encouragement; Wendy McCurdy, Annelise Robey, and Andrea Cirillo deserve full kudos for helping me make this dream rea... (show all)l. Thank you!
A very special umboogwa to Stacey, for using up all her minutes on me. Ditto to Mandy!
And of course, domo, danke, and gracias to Darren, who understood all that. - First words
- Imagine a place so ripe and thick with the promise of magic that the very air breathes in plumes of pearl and gray and smoky blue; that the trees bow with the weight of their heavy branches, dipping low to the ground, droppin... (show all)g needles and leaves into beds of perfume.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It was only a matter of time before the English sent their own dragon princess to find us.
- Blurbers
- Feather, Jane; Moning, Karen Marie; Rondeau, Marilyn; Cutter, Tanzey; Ash, Sarah
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,296
- Popularity
- 18,760
- Reviews
- 50
- Rating
- (3.65)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 3