ONE GOOD DRAGON DESERVES ANOTHER is book 2 in Rachel
Aaron's Heartstrikers series. Aaron is also the author of
the truly sensational Paradox scifi trilogy under the name
Rachel Bach. The Paradox books are highly complex, with
many moving parts and shifting secrets; this Heartstrikers
book 2 feels similar although not quite as complex. Aaron
does a good job of explaining a fairly intricate
metaphysical trick in the final battle so clearly and
easily that I am bowled over. Kudos to her! I do recommend
you read this super-fun Urban Fantasy series in order, as
it relies heavily on events from book 1, NICE DRAGONS FINISH
LAST.
Julius is a young dragon who was kicked out of the
Heartstriker clan for being useless as a dragon because
he's too nice. He's been living and working under the
radar with a young but powerful mage, Marci. However, once
he's owed a life debt from one of the Three Sisters, heads
of a rival dragon family, his vicious mother pulls him back
into the fray of terrifying dragon politics. Now Julius is
trying to stay one step ahead of his enemies and his
family, both the scary relatives as well as his zany Seer
brother, Bob. The action is relentless and the stakes are
heart-stoppingly high. It falls to Julius to save not only
his own life, but to defend the lives of clan that rejected
him.
Since this urban fantasy is set in the near future,
there are lots of fun pop references worked into this
rollicking story, which make me laugh out loud, and I adore
the lovely humor sprinkled throughout. Aaron writes some
very powerful female characters, both villainesses and
heroines. Her world building is superb, and the backstory
of many of the prominent dragons and of the magical spirits
in the region continues to flow organically from the
evolving story. There's a satisfying resolution to the
current threat in this book, but the epilogue provides a
tantalizing view of the next crisis to face Julius and his
allies. I can't wait to see what Rachel Aaron comes up
with next, as it will be hard to top the sheer joyous
action of ONE GOOD DRAGON DESERVES ANOTHER.
After barely escaping the machinations of his terrifying mother, two all-knowing seers, and countless bloodthirsty siblings, the last thing Julius wants to see is another dragon. Unfortunately for him, the only thing more dangerous than being a useless Heartstriker is being a useful one. Now that he's got an in with the Three Sisters, Julius has become a key pawn in Bethesda the Heartstriker's gamble to put her clan on top. Refusal to play along with his mother's plans means death, but there's more going on than even Bethesda knows. Heartstriker futures are disappearing, and Algonquin's dragon hunter is closing in. Now, with his most powerful family members dropping like flies, it's up to Julius to save the family that never respected him and prove once and for all that the world's worst dragon is the very best one to have on your side.