Tiger Eye

The First Dirk & Steele Novel

By: Marjorie Liu

Narrated by: Emma Lysy

“I didn’t just like this book, I LOVED this book. Anyone who loves my work should love it too”—New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan

“If you have yet to add Liu to your must-read list, you’re doing yourself a disservice.”—Booklist

The first exciting Dirk & Steele novel by the incomparable Marjorie M. Liu, Tiger Eye is a breathtaking masterwork of paranormal romance—a stunningly original tale of magic, sensuality, desire, and danger, featuring a hero who is the answer to every romance lover’s fantasy. Tiger Eye is the book that started it all, ushering readers into the Dirk & Steele world of shapeshifters, psychics, and extraordinary beings, showcasing one of the most inventive talents currently working the shadowland where passion and the amazing intertwine.

Tiger genie and mini Magneto

This definitely gave me a bit more of a comic book vibe than your average paranormal romance. Maybe it’s the Avengers Assemble menagerie of supernaturals that make up the Dirk & Steele agency. Or maybe it’s the balance of quips with darker treatment of things like curses, violence against women/kids, and betrayal. Either way, the comic book feel worked for me.

I like that the series gets away from the “young, frail human gal meets xyz supernatural being” trope. Here, Dela has telekinesis with an affinity for metals. She’s also a weapons-smith who creates ceremonial daggers. And she’s a thinker. And not barely legal. Hallelujah! Hari is a cursed shifter with a pretty horrific backstory, but again, thanks to the comic vibe, it doesn’t take over the story.

“Lordie, Dela girl! I have fallen into mighty, fleshy lust. Carnal desire is giving me hot flashes.”
I enjoyed the magical mystery and look forward to seeing the expanded cast of Dirk & Steel regulars in future books. The sex was a bit stingy for a 13 hour book, both in the slow burn and the deets between the sheets when they finally get down to it. But, if I had to choose between naughty nooky with subpar story, characters, and dialogue … or decent nooky and everything else, I’m going to go with the all around solid book, which this was.

Surprisingly good

I bought this story and by the time I got to it the publisher had removed the description. Without any idea what the story was about I started listening to it. It started out with a good beginning and it kept on for the rest of the book. We follow the main character as she figures out what to do with a 2,000 year old tiger shifter. It follows as she figures it all out including meeting some very interesting people along the way. The ending wasn’t rushed and closed things up nicely. This is a great stand alone story.

Great story but……

I loved the story and would read more in the series but I took one star away for the tiring explicit sex scenes. They were unnecessary to the story. Fortunately I could fast forward those parts. The rest was a unique idea and the story line was fun.

I’m glad I took a chance

I read great reviews of this but I usually only borrow romances, and didn’t want to start a series that I would have to buy. This one starts a little trite, with lots of action but little background. However, it quickly becomes riveting with a fabulous story, great modern characters, and few alpha males in the control freak category. There’s intrigue spanning millennium, shape shifters, modern magic called psychic abilities, friendship and families, all coming together with wisdom and laughter, with a bit of true evil thrown in. Guess my credits have a list of purchases!

Wonderful twist/take on a modern fairytale

The reader is fantastic at smoothly transitioning characters and ensuring there is a unique difference between voices but not a comdey of impressions. The Dirk & Steele novels are a fun and interesting take on a modern world with magic, shapeshifters, and psychic talents. They are a romance novel series but the plot and characters are outside of the genre and can be enjoyed by all. The romance scenes fit well into the story without slowing down the flow. Tiger Eye, the first book, introduces you to the organization and characters but focuses on Dela, a related but not prominent member of the org, and her found friend, Hari, a cursed and enslaved Tiger shifter. Take a dash of how would you react to an armed gladiator materializing in your room, a cup of some good old fashioned sleuthing, and a splash of supernatural justice squad lost boys gets you a great read.