DRAGON FALL is the first novel in Katie MacAlister's Dragon Falls series. Characters from the author's Aisling Grey series make an appearance, too. Although I've not read the Aisling Grey books, and being new to Katie MacAlister's world of magic and dragons, I was able to relate to the heroine. At the opening of DRAGON FALL, Aoife Dakar is minding her own business and killing time at a GothFaire in Sweden. She too knows nothing of the world of magic and dragons. However, after witnessing a very magical and very deadly spectacle, and gaining an unwanted piece of jewelry, she winds up in a nuthouse when she tries to tell people what she saw.

Aoife is a very likable and sympathetic heroine. Having her reality altered and not being believed while being thought insane is enough to break some people. She proves to be a very resilient character and a true survivor. Her experience upon being released from the asylum is a little like ALICE IN WONDERLAND. From one moment to the next she meets one peculiar character after another and finds herself in the most bizarre situations. I like Aoife's ability to adapt to her situation, even when it gets very much outside her comfort zone. Jim, the talking demon dog, adds a lot of humor to balance out all the intensity and danger. Katie MacAlister's witty dialogue and farcical situations contribute greatly to my enjoyment of DRAGON FALL.

It's a romantic and somewhat gothic setting when Aoife first meets black dragon and grumpy hottie Kostya, washed up on a beach near her home. Despite his insistence that she is not his mate, he won't let her wash her hands of him. He is never cruel to Aoife, but his experience with his ex makes him extremely reluctant to acknowledge any deep and permanent romantic connection. His gruff attitude never really bugged me as I was reading because I, like Aoife, am a little amused by his denial and see it for what it is -- a fear of being hurt. I love Aoife's way of reacting to Kostya's grumpiness. She lets him know what her boundaries are and if something bothers her. The steaminess and the entertaining banter between Aoife and Kostya make theirs a quirky yet passionate romance.

DRAGON FALL is full of unpredictable twists and turns that will have you laughing, sighing, and thoroughly captivated. Katie MacAlister beautifully balances the tension and danger with the humor and romance. I hope to learn more about the different types of dragons in future books. I look forward to the next installment in this exciting Dragon Falls series, as well as hunting down previous books in the Aisling Grey series.