Sinister Magic: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons Book 1)

I liked this book very much. The concept is different!It has different characters that holds your interest.A plus was it is set in Seattle Wa. where I lived for twenty years.The places in the story are very familiar to me which added to the story.

Note: I read/listened to this series while traveling, so I didn't have access to review each individually. So, this is a review for books .5-6.I’ve read several of Buroker’s books by now and enjoyed them all. The Death Before Dragons series is no exception. I really liked Val and her sarcasm, especially when she bantered with Willard. I loved that she was over 40, even if the fact that she didn’t look it kind of made it only half as satisfying as it would be to have a 40yo heroine who looked her age too. I adored that Val was biologically a mother, but not maternal or raising her child. This is a reality authors very rarely allow female characters, especially ones we’re supposed to like. I appreciate the diversity of the cast. And each of the books wrapped up nicely, which I prefer over an overarching plot where you have to read the whole series to get any conclusive satisfaction. All in all, I would be happy to continue the series.I did have a few complaints. Some of the humor was over the top silly at times. There was a running joke about the shoes the hero wore and if they made him look gay or not, which trod a little too close to a gay joke for my taste (pun intended). This was somewhat mitigated by a loved and important gay character (who wasn’t cliched). But it shouldn’t be a tit for tat situation. Similarly, Val’s refusal to learn to pronounce the dragons’ names was a sign of rebellion, but it also reminded me a lot of Westerners who can learn to pronounce Dostoevsky but not names from the African continent. Uncomfortably close to a problem, close enough to recognize, but not quite there.Lastly, I liked Zav and appreciated him as a love interest, but I never truly felt the passion. There was only one sex scene and it was fade to black, so I suppose passion wasn’t the point. But I might have liked to feel the love more strongly.I stopped at book six because that’s the last the library had. But if I came across book 7 I’d happily read it. But I’m not sad to have a break here either.

This was a new author for me and I think she is a good one and more of her books will be in my future. This book was well written with good character development and a well thought out and written plot.

I find it hard to leave a review for just one book by Lindsay Buroker because she seems to only write a series. Every series is unique and while each book in this series tells a complete story, it is never the whole story. I always feel like I have gone on these epic quests with the characters which is really heightened by reading the series all at once. I recommend Lindsay Buroker to all my friends who are fans of sci fi and fantasy, even steampunk, because she writes in a very engaging style that doesn't alienate with an overly immersive world building mindset. She manages to create worlds that are familiar while still being unique for their magical or supernatural properties. I find it all very easy to relate to, I don't care for books where they call any measure of time something different, always italicised, and then insist on telling me how it is similar to an Earth whatever. I get it, we aren't on Earth, please stop trying to be clever. Buroker does not do that sort of thing in any of her books.Unlike most of her other series, this takes place in Earth, but with dragons and other mythical creatures still living among us, mostly in secret. The heroine, Val, is a half elf assassin who hunts down the bad guys full humans can't fight. She is a strong character, but flawed, and the first book really shows us the course she will need to take to redeem her character and become a much happier amd mentally healthier person. I really loved this set up and it is being fulfilled as we go through the series. On a smaller note, I love love love that the series name and book number is clearly written on the cover so I don't have to hunt or guess which book is next. Come on publishers, get on board already!Okay, to sum up, this is a solid fantasy series based on Earth with a kick ass heroine who has some pretty amazingly talented friends, and a dragon ally. The stakes get higher as the series goes, and I can't wait to see how it ends. This is a good time for anyone who likes action and adventure, humor, friendship, and dragons.

Sometimes I like the characters, sometimes I don't. I'm afraid this is one of those times that i didn't. I'm not sure why, but she just rubbed me the wrong way. Good writing, good world building, though not great, just... Unlikable lead for me.

Val works as an assassin to kill criminal otherworld creatures. What she didn't expect was to become embroiled with a dragon, whilst fighting for her freedom in the human world. A reluctant alliance to help save her boos becomes necessary.As a killer of the magical society she is an unpopular person to be around.This book gives an excellent insight to the different mythical creatures that abound in different cultures whist trying in an excellent storyline.A must read for all lovers of the supernatural world.

Fantasies in urban settings aren't lindsay's usual formula (still waiting for her to finish her single other series with such a setting), so this is a welcome breath of fresh air - to be completely honest, I was growing bored by her standard fantasy and space opera formula.Here's hoping that her Rust & Relics series will finally reach it's conclusion, following this one.

An excellent start to a new series, a different feel to previous books and I think it’s her best book yet. I went straight on to order the second book and I’m glad it’s not too long to wait. If you like feisty heroines and magical creatures you can’t go wrong with this series.

One heck of an opening!! Elves, magical tigers, dragons and a strong and sassy leading lady with kicking tools. And that's just the good guys...well, sort of!! Humour, battles, friendship and adventure...definitely a series to keep an eye on...so much hinted potential..think it could be my next addiction ;-)

Lindsay is simply an amazing storyteller who consistently produces original sf, fantasy and urban fantasy worlds with absorbing characters together with a lot of action but without excessive sex, violence or horror - just pure escapism.If you don’t know her books this is a good place to start. Other reviews have outlined the characters so I won’t go into details except to say that you are instantly completely involved with them. This is the first of a series which clearly has enormous potential; I can’t wait to see where the journey will take us.