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Dirk & Steele #4
A Dream of Stone & Shadow
Previously published in the print anthology Dark Dreamers.
There are those who do terrible things in this world, and others who simply watch. As a gargoyle, sworn to protect the weak, Charlie can do neither. He has been imprisoned by a witch, and his only release will come at his own destruction—or through the help of clairvoyant Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss, she is the one dream he does not dare desire—and yet, she might be his soul's salvation.
There are those who do terrible things in this world, and others who simply watch. As a gargoyle, sworn to protect the weak, Charlie can do neither. He has been imprisoned by a witch, and his only release will come at his own destruction—or through the help of clairvoyant Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss, she is the one dream he does not dare desire—and yet, she might be his soul's salvation.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2012
26 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
319 books4,305 followersNew York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 1, 2013
I’m giving this book 5 stars because the author writes such fine prose, you would think she is far older than her picture on Amazon implies. She is polished, she is talented and she is smart. I really am happy to discover her books and will definitely be reading quite a few of them (definitely from the Dirk & Steele series).
The plot tackles an extremely dark subject – child pornography – and if this is a trigger for you, stay away from this book. It gets a bit explicit, and I wish it hadn’t (just for my own comfort zone), but it definitely establishes two characters as depraved villains. And then there is the witch – truly vile (cannibalism here – also not pleasant). But at the end, she meets her finale with utter satisfaction for the reader – a real bucket of water over the head moment). Not sure exactly the how of it was accomplished, but who cares – it felt good to read! The book was riveting. There is relative insta-love between Aggie and Charlie (who is essentially perfect, more perfect than most heroes in paranormal, but I really liked him, so that was OK). Only one slightly graphic sex scene (which is a departure for most of the paranormal written today) but another caution – interspecies sex. But since gargoyles aren’t real, hey, why not?
Ignore the cover – it’s kind of cheesy looking and has absolutely nothing to do with the book – and pick it up. Devour it. If you like paranormal that is dark and gritty, with some romance thrown in, you will love this.
The plot tackles an extremely dark subject – child pornography – and if this is a trigger for you, stay away from this book. It gets a bit explicit, and I wish it hadn’t (just for my own comfort zone), but it definitely establishes two characters as depraved villains. And then there is the witch – truly vile (cannibalism here – also not pleasant). But at the end, she meets her finale with utter satisfaction for the reader – a real bucket of water over the head moment). Not sure exactly the how of it was accomplished, but who cares – it felt good to read! The book was riveting. There is relative insta-love between Aggie and Charlie (who is essentially perfect, more perfect than most heroes in paranormal, but I really liked him, so that was OK). Only one slightly graphic sex scene (which is a departure for most of the paranormal written today) but another caution – interspecies sex. But since gargoyles aren’t real, hey, why not?
Ignore the cover – it’s kind of cheesy looking and has absolutely nothing to do with the book – and pick it up. Devour it. If you like paranormal that is dark and gritty, with some romance thrown in, you will love this.
June 27, 2021
Re-read. Originally read in the anthology Dark Dreamers.
March 9, 2013
Awesome Read!
Now this was a fantastic read. I totally ate this up because it stayed exciting and interesting through out the whole book, not one dull moment.
I loved Charlie the Gargoyle, though he was immortal, he could kill him self and while his body was regenerating his soul could travel and converse with others in spirit form. He was so caring and passionate about helping others and my heart just melted because he would intentionally kill himself so his soul could travel to be with a little girl named Emma who was kidnapped and who was being sexually abused. He wanted to help her get out of her situation and he did.
I loved Aggie too, she was so fierce and full of action, she had a special gift of seeing the future and it saved her life and her friends lives many times when they were in hot persuit and in the line of fire. Aggie was passionate as well and the author did a great job of matching Aggie up with Charlie.
The story was so awesome catching the sex offenders and putting them behind bars. The ending was so unique and heartfelt, I didn't want it to end.
Now this was a fantastic read. I totally ate this up because it stayed exciting and interesting through out the whole book, not one dull moment.
I loved Charlie the Gargoyle, though he was immortal, he could kill him self and while his body was regenerating his soul could travel and converse with others in spirit form. He was so caring and passionate about helping others and my heart just melted because he would intentionally kill himself so his soul could travel to be with a little girl named Emma who was kidnapped and who was being sexually abused. He wanted to help her get out of her situation and he did.
I loved Aggie too, she was so fierce and full of action, she had a special gift of seeing the future and it saved her life and her friends lives many times when they were in hot persuit and in the line of fire. Aggie was passionate as well and the author did a great job of matching Aggie up with Charlie.
The story was so awesome catching the sex offenders and putting them behind bars. The ending was so unique and heartfelt, I didn't want it to end.
July 5, 2012
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this story. Anything that starts out about a child porn ring immediately makes me squicky. However, Aggie's balls to the wall personality and Charlie's obvious tough but sensitive charm quickly won me over (not to mention all the endearing side characters). This was a novella, so I think that Miss Liu made a smart choice with her villains - make their acts so reprehensible that you don't have to flesh them out much as people, and your readers will immediately hate them. There were no real shades of grey in this, and I was okay with that. The good guys were fabulous, the bad guys were evil, and the love story was a winner.
August 27, 2013
A Dream of Stone and Shadow was an emotional and intense novella focused on a little girl in need of a savior and the gargoyle set on helping her if only through his soul and a “dream.”
I really enjoyed this story as I have found that Majorie M. Liu writes very interesting tales about gargoyles and the like through her Dirk & Steele series. I first caught a glimpse of Charlie in his brother Lannes’ novel, The Wild Road, and have been intrigued by this character and his life ever since. A gargoyle with a human mate and a human child just totally grabbed my attention. I think Ms. Liu did a great job of capturing Charlie’s journey through some of the most horrific aspects of his and his family’s lives while still allowing some of the most emotional and amazing experiences to happen in the process.
For such a short story, A Dream of Shadow and Stone packed an emotional and intense punch that left me reeling even toward the end. I really only had one issue with this story and that was the background of the witch and her “guests” was missing and I would have liked to learn more about these characters even with the way the story ended. Overall, very nice paranormal romantic tale with just the right amount of action, suspense, and humor to make it a cohesive and entertaining story!
I really enjoyed this story as I have found that Majorie M. Liu writes very interesting tales about gargoyles and the like through her Dirk & Steele series. I first caught a glimpse of Charlie in his brother Lannes’ novel, The Wild Road, and have been intrigued by this character and his life ever since. A gargoyle with a human mate and a human child just totally grabbed my attention. I think Ms. Liu did a great job of capturing Charlie’s journey through some of the most horrific aspects of his and his family’s lives while still allowing some of the most emotional and amazing experiences to happen in the process.
For such a short story, A Dream of Shadow and Stone packed an emotional and intense punch that left me reeling even toward the end. I really only had one issue with this story and that was the background of the witch and her “guests” was missing and I would have liked to learn more about these characters even with the way the story ended. Overall, very nice paranormal romantic tale with just the right amount of action, suspense, and humor to make it a cohesive and entertaining story!
November 3, 2014
re-read April 2014
This was my first read of Majorie M. Liu. It came in Dark Dreamers (Dark, #7b) as a duology with a story from Christine Feehan's Carpathians series. I liked this story so much that I wanted more gargoyles and decided to read more of Dirk & Steele, I was impressed with both the first and second book but really disliked the 3rd. I decided to re-read the first book since I read them originally in either 2010 or 2011 just to make sure I didn't misjudge the series. I found I liked Tiger Eye better the 2nd time and A Dream of smoke and Shodow still is one of my top novellas.
This was my first read of Majorie M. Liu. It came in Dark Dreamers (Dark, #7b) as a duology with a story from Christine Feehan's Carpathians series. I liked this story so much that I wanted more gargoyles and decided to read more of Dirk & Steele, I was impressed with both the first and second book but really disliked the 3rd. I decided to re-read the first book since I read them originally in either 2010 or 2011 just to make sure I didn't misjudge the series. I found I liked Tiger Eye better the 2nd time and A Dream of smoke and Shodow still is one of my top novellas.
March 3, 2013
Book 4 in Marjorie Liu's Dirk & Steele series. If you are already reading this series then you can't forget about this story. The whole book is a one day read, albeit a very intense one day!
The Dirk & Steele series is an intriguing one where everyone works for the same company but everyone has a different skill set (for lack of a better word) so each book is NOT like the others. This novella is amazing with both the action and the sex.
The Dirk & Steele series is an intriguing one where everyone works for the same company but everyone has a different skill set (for lack of a better word) so each book is NOT like the others. This novella is amazing with both the action and the sex.
August 26, 2013
Oh LORDY but this one was fantastic. It had a lot of elements of traditional fairy tales and folklore, SO MANY. The story was told fantastically well, and while things came to a wonderful resolution I just wanted it to go on and on. I like the Dirk&Steele series and plan on continuing to read it, but at this moment I find it hard to believe that any of them will live up to this story. Perhaps it's not fair to judge them by this story, because it has such a different tone. I was blown away.
April 16, 2012
I love the Dirk and Steele series. This is a novella about a gargoyle and you will love it.
May 4, 2012
Lovely. Ms. Liu always leaves me with the hope that people will goodness and strength within themselves.
July 27, 2022
I enjoyed this novella. (It was short, but as it was about a very tough subject, I think it would've been difficult to enjoy a longer book. This way, rescue came quickly.)
June 25, 2012
A bitter part of life is the base here, not
for mothers with little children. A good story
and two kids were saved.
for mothers with little children. A good story
and two kids were saved.
June 24, 2012
Originally from the Dark Dreamers anthology with Christine Feehan.
December 16, 2012
This is another one of my favorites in this series! Charlie is the most fascinating man. I have a new love of gargoyles after this book!!!
February 17, 2014
What a lovely short story with a slight beauty and the beast theme. It has fully developed characters and story line, which is amazing given it's length.
November 3, 2014
Absolutely in love with Charlie and his brothers!! Can read over and over and never get tired of the story.
March 29, 2021
Aggie lives for her job, finding those who hurt children & bringing them to justice. I loved the action, and was apprehensive about the little girl Charlie found, whether she would be okay. The fact that Charlie could wander in a type of spirit form was interesting. Marjorie Liu usually has a uniquely beautiful way of describing love scenes, although, I’m not sure I would appreciate a spirit following me around giving me orgasms in public, where I’d practically wreck the car. I was happy to read where Aggie & her partner found two abused children; I was worried one may not live. Near the end of the story, the author alluded to the little girl maybe having powers of her own, so I was a little disappointed when that wasn’t developed. I loved how Aggie loved Charlie enough to die for him, but then a little disappointed at his reaction. Charlie asked Aggie to give up the job that she lived for because if she were to die, he would too. I thought it was a bit of a disservice to both characters to turn them from individuals who were passionate to save abused children to being unwilling to put themselves in harms way any more. But I did enjoy the book, and have already purchased the next in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2019
I read this book years and years ago. In print. I never truly forgot the book, but a day ago, I was really reminded of it and I went trying to find it again. I read the first three pages when I found it in the box of books my sister would not let go.
We have a cursed gargoyle and a pre-cog who somehow find each other. Which is harder than you think since said gargoyle is frozen in stone, I think, and can only mentally meet with her in his dreams.
Between new mental tricks that has her melting and them falling for each other, they save a child before she's able to free him and his two other brothers.
I loved the book. I loved all the books in the series that I was able to read. I'm very tempted to read them all back over again and save the battery power on my phone for a while.
It's exciting, fast-paced, sexy, romantic and it has a happy ever after(kinda) ending. The book does, but the series itself has its perils. This book is a mix of so many things. Oh, this "Dirk & Steele" bit is the name of a paranormal detective agency. No, I'm not going to tell you how they are involved in all this. Read the book to find out.
We have a cursed gargoyle and a pre-cog who somehow find each other. Which is harder than you think since said gargoyle is frozen in stone, I think, and can only mentally meet with her in his dreams.
Between new mental tricks that has her melting and them falling for each other, they save a child before she's able to free him and his two other brothers.
I loved the book. I loved all the books in the series that I was able to read. I'm very tempted to read them all back over again and save the battery power on my phone for a while.
It's exciting, fast-paced, sexy, romantic and it has a happy ever after(kinda) ending. The book does, but the series itself has its perils. This book is a mix of so many things. Oh, this "Dirk & Steele" bit is the name of a paranormal detective agency. No, I'm not going to tell you how they are involved in all this. Read the book to find out.
November 27, 2018
The disembodied shadow of a gargoyle enlists the help of Aggie, a precognitive agent of the Dirk and Steele agency to rescue a 10 year old girl from pornographers.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so different, though the disembodied love scenes were kind of odd. You don’t find many stories with gargoyles
Footnote: 1) This takes place during the same time frame as the previous book: The Red Heart of Jade. So it’s really just a novelette and should be 3.5.
Fave scenes: Aggie playing chicken with a van, Charlie searching for someone to rescue Emma, Aggie’s surprise at Gold Hill airport and Aggie’s one future variation.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so different, though the disembodied love scenes were kind of odd. You don’t find many stories with gargoyles
Footnote: 1) This takes place during the same time frame as the previous book: The Red Heart of Jade. So it’s really just a novelette and should be 3.5.
Fave scenes: Aggie playing chicken with a van, Charlie searching for someone to rescue Emma, Aggie’s surprise at Gold Hill airport and Aggie’s one future variation.
May 21, 2021
I liked this novella enough overall, but it had casual transphobic jokes and (non-explicit) child sexual abuse that I just don't like to read.
I liked the MMC being a , and overall, I like how the series has characters who are physically monstrous in some way who are accepted whole-heartedly by their human-shaped partners. The invisible sex was nice, and I appreciated Charlie's big, ridged penis (lol, shades of Ice Planet Barbarians).
Maybe I missed it because I was listening to the audiobook, but I didn't get a satisfactory explanation about why not fighting was the path to victory for Aggie.
I liked the MMC being a , and overall, I like how the series has characters who are physically monstrous in some way who are accepted whole-heartedly by their human-shaped partners. The invisible sex was nice, and I appreciated Charlie's big, ridged penis (lol, shades of Ice Planet Barbarians).
Maybe I missed it because I was listening to the audiobook, but I didn't get a satisfactory explanation about why not fighting was the path to victory for Aggie.
July 10, 2022
Annoying
So, overall, the story is fun. And I really liked Aggie. But I am tired of people falling in love within five minutes of meeting each other. There is nothing compelling in that. I like the Dirk & Steele world. It's why I continue to read the series. But the actual fantasy elements in these novels are easier to believe than the romance.
So, overall, the story is fun. And I really liked Aggie. But I am tired of people falling in love within five minutes of meeting each other. There is nothing compelling in that. I like the Dirk & Steele world. It's why I continue to read the series. But the actual fantasy elements in these novels are easier to believe than the romance.
July 24, 2025
Great Love Story
I absolutely Loved this story. The heroine, Aggie, was kickass, brave, steadfast, dedicated and caring. Charlie, the hero was an awesome character, and Marjorie Liu wove a tale with action, danger, and love. Truly an awesome novella and well worth a read. No cliffhanger, can be read as a standalone.
I absolutely Loved this story. The heroine, Aggie, was kickass, brave, steadfast, dedicated and caring. Charlie, the hero was an awesome character, and Marjorie Liu wove a tale with action, danger, and love. Truly an awesome novella and well worth a read. No cliffhanger, can be read as a standalone.
November 28, 2017
Another story I've been wanting to reread as I remember really liking it when I read it in an anthology. I did like it all over again, and found it a solid story but not blow-me-away amazing. Still very much worth the read though.
December 2, 2024
A fast-moving, high-stakes story starring a couple who are separated by such dire circumstances that it seems impossible for them ever to be together. I’m knocking my rating down a star for one very dated trans joke.
November 6, 2018
Dirk and Steele
This series is great.Making a difference is what this detective agency is all about.This story is a standalone.Saving abused children is the goal.
This series is great.Making a difference is what this detective agency is all about.This story is a standalone.Saving abused children is the goal.
March 15, 2019
This is my absolutely favorite story ever. It's so beautiful! The sacrifice of Charlie for the little girl just unfathomable. I can't recommend this book enough!
March 28, 2019
compelling
July 19, 2019
Another exciting adventure!
I love all of the Dirk and Steele books. This one was exciting and fast paced though I would have loved more.
I love all of the Dirk and Steele books. This one was exciting and fast paced though I would have loved more.
May 24, 2020
If you told me that I would enjoy a book about a ghost gargoyle fucking a random lady in a plane, I would laugh at your face...
... and then say: "Yeah, probably."
... and then say: "Yeah, probably."
June 16, 2020
I really enjoyed the premise of this one. And Aggie is pure delight.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews