Up in Smoke

Silver Dragons, Book 2

By: Katie MacAlister

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Katie MacAlister packs heat and humor into her best-selling Silver Dragons series. Here May Northcutt continues her quest to free herself from the clutches of the Demon Lord Magoth so she can take her rightful place beside Gabriel, the ruler of the Silver Dragons.

Listen to more in the Silver Dragons series.

©2008 Katie MacAlister (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“This zany paranormal… will work its magic with MacAlister’s many fans and make some new ones along the way.” (Booklist)

LMAO!

I love Katie's books and I think Barbara Rosenblat did a great job narrating this book! I can't wait to download the next one!!

-Sandie

Love my Dragons!

I have been a faithful Katie Macalister fan from day 1.... Before I joined Audible-I READ every series she has out and in doing so, my mind had created it's own opinion of all the character's voices, traits, etc... So, when I purchased and began listening to the Audible versions- narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, I admit I was a bit worried it wouldn't do them justice.... Her voice is very distinct- BUT... Oh, how I was SOOOO wrong!!!! Barbara's unique vocal ranges and absolutely superb variations on the characters accents BLEW ME AWAY!!! There really is no other narrator who could pull it off so flawlessly! Bravo Katie, and BRAVO Barbara!!!!

Is it over yet?

There’s zero progress in this book. It starts and finishes with May stuck with lecherous Magoth, constant coitus-interruptus, and unknown threats to dragon kind that May is smack-dab in the middle of.

What little “new” story is taken from the same “old” playbook of the prior Aisling Grey series, especially advancing the plot by giving the female lead new powers that wreak havoc on the romance and mystery side. The female-hysterics schtick from the prior series also repeats here, as May freaks out, or wrings her hands in despair, constantly.

And the exclamations of “Agathos Daimon” and pet name of “little bird” are even more frequent, like a syrupy-sweet form of Tourette’s Syndrome. I have a tic from hearing them.

I finished the next book 3 only to appease my OCD, and because I bought all 7 books of this and the prior series together on sale. Sad to say, the author’s dragon books peaked for me at book 1 of series 1. There are at least three more spinoff series after this one, judging from the Audible list, and they all repeat the same playbook. What is it they say about the definition of insanity being a constant repeat of the same thing, expecting different results? I am not crazy enough to keep going.

Sequel?

Though not quite up to the Green Dragon series, this book is great fun. My only complaint is that the next volume in the Silver Dragons' series is not yet available in an audible format. This volume really leaves the reader hanging at the end.

The whine has to GO - my poor ears want to bleed!

Ok, I’m having to take a break for a bit before finishing this one. I understand that her sister Cyrene gave up her common sense in exchange to make May (incredibly odd and honestly irritating in itself, but I can get over that). However, 95% of the time Cyrene’s voice is an honest to god WHINE - in that you picture someone so incredibly emotional that they are at the very least on the edge of tears.

Ok, so as much as it has irritated me since the first book, I have been able to push through and just grind my teeth, thanking all that is holy that the whiner isn’t the main character. That being said, now all of a sudden May’s emotions are all out of whack due to the soul shard and her emotions are swinging between 2 extremes - angry (like, internally contemplating murder and/or dismemberment) or whining/on the verge of tears. Ok, if I were reading it, most likely this wouldn’t bother me at all. I would be able to rationalize the situation and I would be able to fit it into the situation. Of course, in my head she wouldn’t loudly whine all of her words to people - I would hear her undercurrent of turmoil, but that doesn’t always have to sound like she’s whining through tears. Unfortunately, the narrator has ZERO variation for her “emotional voice”! It’s like if you’re trying to talk to someone who is trying to talk while they’re crying. The whine is overwhelming and like nails on a chalkboard after awhile.

Like I said, it was bad enough that I want to strangle someone every time Cy speaks (aka whines), but now to have May’s voice sound the exact same the majority of the time, I had to take a break before I decide I don’t care what happens to any of them, as long as I don’t have to hear that whine ever again!
I will try again later (maybe in a couple of days) and just listen to little bits at a time or something?

I do like the story so far for the most part - though her ridiculous “swear” has gotten into my hackles as well. If she said it very sporadically it would be kinda cute or maybe even funny. But to hear “Agathos daimon!” SO increasingly often, it has gotten incredibly irritating! Especially to find out it actually means “good spirit”...??? SMH

Luv luv luv these Dragon books

Sexy Silver Dragon Gabriel still gets entwined in May's world and visa versa so another great story is unveiled.

Worth the credit? YES YES YES and YES

Suspenseful middle book of the series

This is the middle book of a three-part story, so it would make no sense without listening to Playing With Fire first and doesn’t really end in more than a setup for Me and My Shadow, but I found it kept up enough plot twists and action to keep me interested in the characters and wanting to see how the story turns out.

Some reviews I read for Playing with Fire complained about the narrator’s voice, but I really like it. Her female voices are different enough to sense their different personalities, and the smoky quality in her voice is perfect for the demon prince who is just the definition of unctuous, and the male dragons being sultry.

Just Too Quirky

So, thanks to the cliffhanger at the end of book one, I decided to go straight into this one, book two in the series. I've now officially discovered what my limit is for over-the-top quirkiness, because I reached it about halfway thru this book. Yikes! Honestly, I don't think it's the story as much as it is the narrator. I'm completely over these voicings--this is actually a rare example where I might have enjoyed reading the text better than listening to the audio. For example, the character Jim (a demon in a big Newffie dog's body) is a total hoot, but his voice is just cringe-worthy.

If you're like me, and you enjoyed the first book enough to go on to the second, do yourself a favor and don't do them back to back. Enjoy another book or two by different authors before you come back to this series. I think you'll enjoy it better. If you can't stand a little dose of insanity in your paranormal romance, well, this probably isn't the one for you then.

would have

Would have been nice but the ending still goes on with the sermon situation and I'm not interested anymore.

😁

derivative of Aisling Grey books but that's part of what I like. Gabriel's character is particularly delicious.