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Dragon Heist
The world’s smallest dragon and a washed-up actress team up to strike a blow for humanity in this brand-new adventure by the author of the "Andrea Vernon" and "Orlando People" series.Birdie Binkowitz is just a little bitter. As a young actress, she was the toast of Hollywood, definitely destined for greatness. Then the dragons had to rise up from their thousand-year slumber, take over Earth and ruin everything. Twenty years later, Birdie is living her worst life in her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, working at her father's Seed and Feed (and Bagels).
Then, a mysterious dragon appears in front of the store seeking her help. He’s got a bone to pick with his fellow dragons–and he wants to hit them where it hurts.
Birdie and Jim the Dragon will need to put together a team with a fighter, a mage, a thief, and a giant to pull off a daring heist. If they succeed, they might change the world.
Or at least get Birdie an agent.
Then, a mysterious dragon appears in front of the store seeking her help. He’s got a bone to pick with his fellow dragons–and he wants to hit them where it hurts.
Birdie and Jim the Dragon will need to put together a team with a fighter, a mage, a thief, and a giant to pull off a daring heist. If they succeed, they might change the world.
Or at least get Birdie an agent.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2023
27 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 8, 2023
Everyone, I gave my own book five stars again and I feel great about it.
June 9, 2023
*** 4.75 ***
This deserves the high rating not only for the freshly humorous heist story, but for the perfection of narration of the Audiobook!!! It is delightful and her timing is right on point, but the juels of the book are the moments when the main character, who has been the voice over actor for a couple of popular Disney - like animation films, belts the popular songs of said movies! This voice and this author are a marriage made in heaven ❤️❤️❤️😀👍.
If you feel like a feel-good, light and very easy read, this has to be it! And I would definitely recommend it to be experienced in Audio! Just pure delight! Roll Tide!!! 😀
This deserves the high rating not only for the freshly humorous heist story, but for the perfection of narration of the Audiobook!!! It is delightful and her timing is right on point, but the juels of the book are the moments when the main character, who has been the voice over actor for a couple of popular Disney - like animation films, belts the popular songs of said movies! This voice and this author are a marriage made in heaven ❤️❤️❤️😀👍.
If you feel like a feel-good, light and very easy read, this has to be it! And I would definitely recommend it to be experienced in Audio! Just pure delight! Roll Tide!!! 😀
May 22, 2023
DRAGON HEIST by Alexander C. Kane is a urban fantasy novel that goes the road less traveled of not being about vampires, werewolves, or witches. Instead, it is about dragons taking over the world and proceeding to have the vast majority of humankind not really care. It's a humorous novel akin to his excellent "Andrea Vernon" series where the protagonist was a secretary working at a superhero corporation. In this case, our protagonist, Birdie Binkowitz, t is a washed-up voice actress living in Tuskaloosa, Alabama as a feed and seed stock clerk.
Birdie's life changes dramatically when she makes a pact with a dragon fleeing from the dragons of Tennessee and Georgia to become his "Vox." This results in the dragon gaining the ability to speak (as a Southern hick she names Jim) as well as Birdie becoming ensnared in Jim's plot to rob the other dragons of the country. The dragons rule the world and since they aren't interested in anything other than gold or jewels, most people are content to let them remain rulers of the world.
Jim the Dragon is something of a quirky patron and easily distracted by the trivialities of Southern living. His plan is also to assemble a Dungeons and Dragons-esque heroes with a Fighter, Thief, Giant, Mage, and Archer. All of them are oddball Southerners and people that Birdie more or less recruits through sheer dumb luck. I came to like all of them through the story and Birdie dealing with them is a source of constant humor.
Birdie, herself, is a great character that was an incredibly snobby and spoiled child star before circumstances meant her career ended before it began. She's been basically stewing in her own resentment for the better part of ten years. Listening to everyone's opinions about her drunken antics and mayhem is hilarious. It's also fun when we find out her hidden depths like her immense love of roller skating.
The narration and writing is really well-done. Both managed to capture the peculiarities of Southern living. As a lifelong resident of the South, the quirkiness of rural living is properly captured. Things like the oddball characters, interrelationship of characters, constant gossip, and struggle against other more prosperous states is all true to my experience.
If you're looking for a fun and hilarious audiobook that involves dragons as well as quirky townsfolk then this is an excellent purchase. Alexander C. Kane never makes his world too dangerous or too serious. This is a great book and you won't regret listening.
Birdie's life changes dramatically when she makes a pact with a dragon fleeing from the dragons of Tennessee and Georgia to become his "Vox." This results in the dragon gaining the ability to speak (as a Southern hick she names Jim) as well as Birdie becoming ensnared in Jim's plot to rob the other dragons of the country. The dragons rule the world and since they aren't interested in anything other than gold or jewels, most people are content to let them remain rulers of the world.
Jim the Dragon is something of a quirky patron and easily distracted by the trivialities of Southern living. His plan is also to assemble a Dungeons and Dragons-esque heroes with a Fighter, Thief, Giant, Mage, and Archer. All of them are oddball Southerners and people that Birdie more or less recruits through sheer dumb luck. I came to like all of them through the story and Birdie dealing with them is a source of constant humor.
Birdie, herself, is a great character that was an incredibly snobby and spoiled child star before circumstances meant her career ended before it began. She's been basically stewing in her own resentment for the better part of ten years. Listening to everyone's opinions about her drunken antics and mayhem is hilarious. It's also fun when we find out her hidden depths like her immense love of roller skating.
The narration and writing is really well-done. Both managed to capture the peculiarities of Southern living. As a lifelong resident of the South, the quirkiness of rural living is properly captured. Things like the oddball characters, interrelationship of characters, constant gossip, and struggle against other more prosperous states is all true to my experience.
If you're looking for a fun and hilarious audiobook that involves dragons as well as quirky townsfolk then this is an excellent purchase. Alexander C. Kane never makes his world too dangerous or too serious. This is a great book and you won't regret listening.
April 19, 2024
This book was one of the most enjoyable rides I can remember in a while. I listened on audio and the narrator was fantastic! It was so unserious and I am here for it.
In this world dragons have returned from a very, very long sleep to basically come back and hold dominion over humans and their lands. As we start the book, there have been no more wars or anything but that is because dragons have decided they are the biggest of the big bads. They have created clans that hold territories and have human minions to act as liaisons between them and most of humankind. In order to communicate with humans they pick a particular human and do a sort of vulcan mind meld with that person who becomes known as a vox. They then can speak with other humans by themselves and can borrow their human's voice to speak through them.
And here we meet out intrepid... uh... maybe heroine is the wrong word... Birdie Binkowitz. Birdie is a 30-something woman who is a washed up former child star. She voiced characters in a wildly popular film about...Dragons. She was a terrible star. Mean, entitled and very much as asshole. She freely acknowledges this. Now she is kinda broke and working for her dad in Tuscaloosa, AL at his feed store know hilariously as the Binkowitz Feed and Seed and Bagels (they also sell bagels). She is the worst employee!
One day while working Birdie and the other employees witness a rather small dragon (compared to most) get into an aerial fight with two dragons from rival clans who both claim Tuscaloosa as their territory. When all the smoke clears, the two bigger dragons get called away and what is left is the smaller dragon who somehow survived the fight. Through a series of circumstances, Birdie becomes his vox, she names him Jim The Dragon. And the adventure begins.
Jim has a plan. He has a beef with one the bigger dragons, Ajax of the Nightwhisper clan and wants to stick it to him by infiltrating his lair and stealing some of his hoarde. But they need to get a crew together: A mage, a thief, an archer, a fighter and a giant. Birdie is all 'what the fuck else do I have to do? '
Like any self respecting heist story, one part of the fun is in identifying and recruiting their crew. Which they do in fine fashion with a lot of hilarity. Let's just say it isn't only Hollywood that kinda hates Birdie.
I have read other reviews where people have compared it to a D&D quest. I have never done D&D, not my frame of reference at all. But I have watched all 7 seasons of Leverage eleventy-billion times and this was totally giving the entire hitter, hacker, thief, grifter and mastermind vibe.
So our crew slowly gel and they have great names like Crocodile Ray and Dottie Three-Hands. We get tests of strength and challenges. And roller skating!
Besides the planning and execution of the quest we get lots of other fun stuff happening on the side. Tuscaloosa welcoming Jim The Dragon who really just wants to belly up to the bar (he is wayy too big) with his new buddies, Birdie's somewhat antagonistic romance with the vox of one of the New York dragon clans, a shady human group that is trying to learn how to kill dragons, and and unexpected and surprisingly sweet relationship that unfolds. There are some predictable things but there are also some nice revelations and surprises that balance those as well.
And even thought the humor is front and center, there is a nice undertone of justice and doing what is right and even a little subtext about power and colonization.
Also because I feel it is important to highlight, this book is very inclusive with the heist crew being very diverse. Birdie and her dad are Jewish, there is LGBTQ rep, there is racial diversity, and there is a wide range of age rep across the crew.
And the characters themselves, just through their characteristics are all different and interesting. Bridie's snarkiness, Keyontae's earnestness and seriousness, Harvey's social justice activism, and Jim wanting to make changes in the Dragon world because he thinks they can do better.
And finally I love how the dragons are basically mafia families with really cool names like the Nightwhispers, the Bloodeyes ,and the Heartpiercers.
The book definitely has a fantastic ending, but there is enough set up for there logically to be a sequel. If there is one, I will definitely read!
Highly recommended, especially the audio!
In this world dragons have returned from a very, very long sleep to basically come back and hold dominion over humans and their lands. As we start the book, there have been no more wars or anything but that is because dragons have decided they are the biggest of the big bads. They have created clans that hold territories and have human minions to act as liaisons between them and most of humankind. In order to communicate with humans they pick a particular human and do a sort of vulcan mind meld with that person who becomes known as a vox. They then can speak with other humans by themselves and can borrow their human's voice to speak through them.
And here we meet out intrepid... uh... maybe heroine is the wrong word... Birdie Binkowitz. Birdie is a 30-something woman who is a washed up former child star. She voiced characters in a wildly popular film about...Dragons. She was a terrible star. Mean, entitled and very much as asshole. She freely acknowledges this. Now she is kinda broke and working for her dad in Tuscaloosa, AL at his feed store know hilariously as the Binkowitz Feed and Seed and Bagels (they also sell bagels). She is the worst employee!
One day while working Birdie and the other employees witness a rather small dragon (compared to most) get into an aerial fight with two dragons from rival clans who both claim Tuscaloosa as their territory. When all the smoke clears, the two bigger dragons get called away and what is left is the smaller dragon who somehow survived the fight. Through a series of circumstances, Birdie becomes his vox, she names him Jim The Dragon. And the adventure begins.
Jim has a plan. He has a beef with one the bigger dragons, Ajax of the Nightwhisper clan and wants to stick it to him by infiltrating his lair and stealing some of his hoarde. But they need to get a crew together: A mage, a thief, an archer, a fighter and a giant. Birdie is all 'what the fuck else do I have to do? '
Like any self respecting heist story, one part of the fun is in identifying and recruiting their crew. Which they do in fine fashion with a lot of hilarity. Let's just say it isn't only Hollywood that kinda hates Birdie.
I have read other reviews where people have compared it to a D&D quest. I have never done D&D, not my frame of reference at all. But I have watched all 7 seasons of Leverage eleventy-billion times and this was totally giving the entire hitter, hacker, thief, grifter and mastermind vibe.
So our crew slowly gel and they have great names like Crocodile Ray and Dottie Three-Hands. We get tests of strength and challenges. And roller skating!
Besides the planning and execution of the quest we get lots of other fun stuff happening on the side. Tuscaloosa welcoming Jim The Dragon who really just wants to belly up to the bar (he is wayy too big) with his new buddies, Birdie's somewhat antagonistic romance with the vox of one of the New York dragon clans, a shady human group that is trying to learn how to kill dragons, and and unexpected and surprisingly sweet relationship that unfolds. There are some predictable things but there are also some nice revelations and surprises that balance those as well.
And even thought the humor is front and center, there is a nice undertone of justice and doing what is right and even a little subtext about power and colonization.
Also because I feel it is important to highlight, this book is very inclusive with the heist crew being very diverse. Birdie and her dad are Jewish, there is LGBTQ rep, there is racial diversity, and there is a wide range of age rep across the crew.
And the characters themselves, just through their characteristics are all different and interesting. Bridie's snarkiness, Keyontae's earnestness and seriousness, Harvey's social justice activism, and Jim wanting to make changes in the Dragon world because he thinks they can do better.
And finally I love how the dragons are basically mafia families with really cool names like the Nightwhispers, the Bloodeyes ,and the Heartpiercers.
The book definitely has a fantastic ending, but there is enough set up for there logically to be a sequel. If there is one, I will definitely read!
Highly recommended, especially the audio!
May 27, 2023
4 ⭐️
Funny as hell as always! If it never occurred to you that you wanted your dragon to be passionate about Alabama football (Roll Tide!), and found family is your happy place, this is a fantastic place to go.
I loved how annoying Birdie is, and how that’s kind of her super power. Hvam did a great job with the voices.
Without spoilers — I hope we get to add a family member or two to a potential sequel! Bring down the patriarchy/capitalism/dragon overlords! Although I’m still kind of desperate for another OP book, that’s been my favorite so far.
My only teeny complaint here was that the plot was pretty linear (quest!), without any of the unexpected left turns I’ve come to enjoy in Kane’s work.
Funny as hell as always! If it never occurred to you that you wanted your dragon to be passionate about Alabama football (Roll Tide!), and found family is your happy place, this is a fantastic place to go.
I loved how annoying Birdie is, and how that’s kind of her super power. Hvam did a great job with the voices.
Without spoilers — I hope we get to add a family member or two to a potential sequel! Bring down the patriarchy/capitalism/dragon overlords! Although I’m still kind of desperate for another OP book, that’s been my favorite so far.
My only teeny complaint here was that the plot was pretty linear (quest!), without any of the unexpected left turns I’ve come to enjoy in Kane’s work.
March 9, 2024
I never knew I needed a heist story that features a dragon who is passionate about Alabama football. Obviously Alexander C. Kane knew and he wrote Dragon Heist to fill the niche. Birdie Binkowitz is a washed up actress who finds herself living back home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, working at her father's general store and is rather bitter about where life has taken her. All that changes when a dragon appears in front of the store seeking help. He wants to pull a heist on another dragon clan and he's determined that Birdie is the one to help him form a team and get the job done.
As I imagine Jim the Dragon would say, this was right good fun ya'll! I haven't read a good heist story in a while and Dragon Heist fit the bill. It reminded me of a classic D&D-style gathering of the party to go on a quest. Add in fun, quirky characters, a genuinely heartwarming story, dragons and hefty dose of humor and you get a great mix that was also laugh out loud funny at times.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Khristine Hvam. She does a great job of bringing the story to life and has a decent singing voice.
The story is completely resolved and currently stands alone yet there's a nice hook left open for the author to write more some day. I hope he does. Roll Tide!
As I imagine Jim the Dragon would say, this was right good fun ya'll! I haven't read a good heist story in a while and Dragon Heist fit the bill. It reminded me of a classic D&D-style gathering of the party to go on a quest. Add in fun, quirky characters, a genuinely heartwarming story, dragons and hefty dose of humor and you get a great mix that was also laugh out loud funny at times.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Khristine Hvam. She does a great job of bringing the story to life and has a decent singing voice.
The story is completely resolved and currently stands alone yet there's a nice hook left open for the author to write more some day. I hope he does. Roll Tide!
December 6, 2023
Reread now that the ebook has come out. Enjoyed the heck outta it all over again.
======
This book was mildly entertaining during the first few chapters of set up. But I definitely cracked up when Jim (the Dragon) announced that in order to accomplish their goal, they were going to have to get a fighter, a thief, a giant, and a mage. Hey, that's dungeons and dragons quest stuff! All in modern-day Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Then it started to get fun and imaginative. My favorite character was the thief, Dottie Three Hands.
As the story went on, I became more curious about the goal of looting a dragon's lair. There seemed to be more at stake than simply getting treasure. As it turns out, that was correct and the twist was predictable but not disappointing for all that. I thoroughly enjoyed the team getting through the puzzles at the gates. I also really enjoyed Birdie's talent being that of annoying people beyond their ability to keep their minds on what they were doing.
All in all, this was a perfect summer read and I'd love it if there is a sequel.
======
This book was mildly entertaining during the first few chapters of set up. But I definitely cracked up when Jim (the Dragon) announced that in order to accomplish their goal, they were going to have to get a fighter, a thief, a giant, and a mage. Hey, that's dungeons and dragons quest stuff! All in modern-day Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Then it started to get fun and imaginative. My favorite character was the thief, Dottie Three Hands.
As the story went on, I became more curious about the goal of looting a dragon's lair. There seemed to be more at stake than simply getting treasure. As it turns out, that was correct and the twist was predictable but not disappointing for all that. I thoroughly enjoyed the team getting through the puzzles at the gates. I also really enjoyed Birdie's talent being that of annoying people beyond their ability to keep their minds on what they were doing.
All in all, this was a perfect summer read and I'd love it if there is a sequel.
May 31, 2023
Now I am sad because I have read every Alexander C. Kane book listed in Goodreads, the Andrea Vernons twice. I will need to be patient.
January 4, 2024
01/04/2024 Mini-Review:
3 Stars for Narration by Khristine Hvam
5 Stars for Outcast Crew
4 Stars for Concepts
Recommend the book for those who want a fun, urban fantasy with quirky characters.
Narration: Khristine Hvam is a great narrator. EXCEPT when she does a particular southern/hick accent and then I want to stab my eardrums. Thankfully, the bad southern accent was not used for the majority of the audiobook.
CHAPTER ONE
Kane did a fantastic job of loading tons of info into the first chapter. On the surface, it sounds like an off the cuff, snarky spill of miscellaneous stuff. A spill that firmly established characters, story voice and setting.
A smart, modern fairytale plopped in the south. A group of outcasts drawn together to do something something against the mighty dragons! Clever lines are threaded between everyday remarks. Lots of humor based on in story actions and thoughts.
Sign me up for more books about this motley crew and fighting against established dragon culture.
3 Stars for Narration by Khristine Hvam
5 Stars for Outcast Crew
4 Stars for Concepts
Recommend the book for those who want a fun, urban fantasy with quirky characters.
Narration: Khristine Hvam is a great narrator. EXCEPT when she does a particular southern/hick accent and then I want to stab my eardrums. Thankfully, the bad southern accent was not used for the majority of the audiobook.
CHAPTER ONE
Kane did a fantastic job of loading tons of info into the first chapter. On the surface, it sounds like an off the cuff, snarky spill of miscellaneous stuff. A spill that firmly established characters, story voice and setting.
A smart, modern fairytale plopped in the south. A group of outcasts drawn together to do something something against the mighty dragons! Clever lines are threaded between everyday remarks. Lots of humor based on in story actions and thoughts.
Sign me up for more books about this motley crew and fighting against established dragon culture.
July 14, 2023
I listen to most of my books and for this one my one star shouldn't detract from anyone's enjoyment for their eyes. I couldn't get past the narration. I'm sure she's just trying to get the flavor of the deep, uneducated Southern drawl but I found it so annoying that I couldn't go on.
August 28, 2025
4.5 stars -I did this in audible and it was a lot of fun. I gave it a try because Kristine Hvam is a favorite reader of mine. It is also available for free on kindle with Kindle Unlimited.
The leading lady in this UF, starts out fairly unpleasant as a washed up voice actor who drinks too much, but who turns herself around when she becomes the representative of a misfit dragon in a world overtaken by dragon clans. I enjoyed the collection of the "crew" for the dragon heist and the quest like nature of the actual heist. I was kind of sad to see that there isn't a book two.
The leading lady in this UF, starts out fairly unpleasant as a washed up voice actor who drinks too much, but who turns herself around when she becomes the representative of a misfit dragon in a world overtaken by dragon clans. I enjoyed the collection of the "crew" for the dragon heist and the quest like nature of the actual heist. I was kind of sad to see that there isn't a book two.
November 11, 2023
This was a light humorous story with great characters. The humor was funny without resorting too much to crude language and potty jokes. I liked how the characters were developed as the story went on and appreciated the found family aspect of the story. The audio book was excellent. The narrator really brought many different characters to life and made each one's voice distinct. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a light listen that doesn't take itself too seriously.
January 7, 2024
Dragon Heist is a good time and an easy read. Fun urban fantasy with solid comedy thrown in. I will say some of the jokes get a bit juvenile for my taste, but that's not enough of a ding to take away a star for me.
September 12, 2023
Too silly for me. Unfinished Sept 2023
May 20, 2023
I adore Alexander's books. They are snarky Sci-Fi gems.
Any book that makes a reference to Andre the giant in his wrestling onesie gets a 5 star rating.
Any book that makes a reference to Andre the giant in his wrestling onesie gets a 5 star rating.
June 10, 2023
I have yet to read a book by this author that I don’t love! Audible narrators are always great too.
July 24, 2023
Loved every second of this book. It was just perfect as an audiobook.
November 20, 2025
Quirky story of a dragon planning a heist. His goal? To change the dragon-human order with his found family. Lots of laughs and heartwarming moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2023
Summary:
Birdie Binkowitz's life is crap. Or, at least, she thinks its crap. In her early teens, she struck it big in Hollywood, becoming the star voice actress for two big hit animated films, before soon flaming out. She is now 35 and works at her father's Feed, Seed, and Bagels, where she can never remember what feed goes for the goats and which for the sheep. Mostly oblivious to her do-gooder Dad who adores her and a fun co-worker, she's sarcastic and drinks too much, lamenting the days bitterly of when she was once Big Stuff.
Until a small, orange and red Dragon from the Arctic shows up to her backyard (where's doing more binge-drinking but wise enough not to ask the Dragon for a light) and wants her for her voice. No, not the creepy Ursula kind, just the not-creepy Vulcan mind-meld kind that allows him to learn English and talk with the same vocal tones as his human he's linked-in with (I don't think they're also linkedin on the Internet). She names him Jim, he quickly and naturally adopts the character and culture of Tuscaloosa (even learning the cheers for the 'Bama football team), and she recruits and manages his team (a thief, a fighter, an archer, a giant, and a mage) to break into the Dragon Vault of Memphis. Together, they're going to take down (at-least a notch) the mighty dragons who've returned from their thousand-year Big Sleep (Note: Humphrey Bogart, however, has not returned) to be the New Kids on the Block (I have no idea if the like the 1990 boy band, but they do like humans to play music for them): the mega-powerful who rule through intimidation, propaganda, money, and human voxes who all have deep. strong voices.
Review--the things I like:
*Dialogue: Kane writes witty, back-and-forth between the characters, sometimes wise, almost always humorous, and often LOL hilarious.
*Characters with diverse identifying traits yet a kindred humanity: Kane and the voice actress real bring to life nine or so main characters, allowing us to connect with them and feel like friends and family, including...
*Another strong, complex female protagonist: Each of Kane's three book-series star as lead character, strong, complex, talented young women whose lives have sputtered but are each able to seize an opportunity to better the world and better themselves in the process.
*Jim the Dragon is the kind of Dude most any would want to adopt as their Dude friend and just hang with, even if his back is too scaly to really ride.
*Keyontae: He becomes part of the Heist team; works at the Seed and Feed, attends Stillman, model employee, and consummate nerd but also with great humanity; he becomes an able, likeable team-leader with Birdie.
*Harvey: do-gooder Dad to Birdie; he adores his daughter but also calls her on her crap; attends the synagogue and organizes with his friends; (and has a secret romance with someone way out of his league).
*Danny Pancakes: He's the "Dragon Lord" of Tuscaloosa, responsible to speak on behalf and in favor of the dragon rulers in this 5th largest city in Alabama. He likes that he can wear a cape, talk weekly on the news, and still has plenty of time to practice his clarinet.
*A logical magical system, powered by dragons, where feelings and intentions can be transferred to objects.
Rating:
Alexander C. Kane is one of my favorite audiobook authors, as his books are all light-hearted, quirky/silly and funny, yet also intelligent and wise. Compared to many other 4-star average audiobook authors I've listened to, I probably should have given this book a 5, but I reserve 5s for all-time-favorites and this was merely a favorite (not all-time). However, it is probably not fair to compare with his Andrea Vernon series, which are indeed all-time-favorites. He writes like a sit-com writer a la The Office, Parks and Rec, or Friends, where the jokes keep coming. I didn't like this book as much as I thought, or was use to, and immediately listened to this book a 2nd time when finishing, having a better feel for the characters the 2nd time around, and catching a lot more of the jokes. Indeed, I've listened to all his books multiple times and perhaps enjoy them more each listen.
Birdie Binkowitz's life is crap. Or, at least, she thinks its crap. In her early teens, she struck it big in Hollywood, becoming the star voice actress for two big hit animated films, before soon flaming out. She is now 35 and works at her father's Feed, Seed, and Bagels, where she can never remember what feed goes for the goats and which for the sheep. Mostly oblivious to her do-gooder Dad who adores her and a fun co-worker, she's sarcastic and drinks too much, lamenting the days bitterly of when she was once Big Stuff.
Until a small, orange and red Dragon from the Arctic shows up to her backyard (where's doing more binge-drinking but wise enough not to ask the Dragon for a light) and wants her for her voice. No, not the creepy Ursula kind, just the not-creepy Vulcan mind-meld kind that allows him to learn English and talk with the same vocal tones as his human he's linked-in with (I don't think they're also linkedin on the Internet). She names him Jim, he quickly and naturally adopts the character and culture of Tuscaloosa (even learning the cheers for the 'Bama football team), and she recruits and manages his team (a thief, a fighter, an archer, a giant, and a mage) to break into the Dragon Vault of Memphis. Together, they're going to take down (at-least a notch) the mighty dragons who've returned from their thousand-year Big Sleep (Note: Humphrey Bogart, however, has not returned) to be the New Kids on the Block (I have no idea if the like the 1990 boy band, but they do like humans to play music for them): the mega-powerful who rule through intimidation, propaganda, money, and human voxes who all have deep. strong voices.
Review--the things I like:
*Dialogue: Kane writes witty, back-and-forth between the characters, sometimes wise, almost always humorous, and often LOL hilarious.
*Characters with diverse identifying traits yet a kindred humanity: Kane and the voice actress real bring to life nine or so main characters, allowing us to connect with them and feel like friends and family, including...
*Another strong, complex female protagonist: Each of Kane's three book-series star as lead character, strong, complex, talented young women whose lives have sputtered but are each able to seize an opportunity to better the world and better themselves in the process.
*Jim the Dragon is the kind of Dude most any would want to adopt as their Dude friend and just hang with, even if his back is too scaly to really ride.
*Keyontae: He becomes part of the Heist team; works at the Seed and Feed, attends Stillman, model employee, and consummate nerd but also with great humanity; he becomes an able, likeable team-leader with Birdie.
*Harvey: do-gooder Dad to Birdie; he adores his daughter but also calls her on her crap; attends the synagogue and organizes with his friends; (and has a secret romance with someone way out of his league).
*Danny Pancakes: He's the "Dragon Lord" of Tuscaloosa, responsible to speak on behalf and in favor of the dragon rulers in this 5th largest city in Alabama. He likes that he can wear a cape, talk weekly on the news, and still has plenty of time to practice his clarinet.
*A logical magical system, powered by dragons, where feelings and intentions can be transferred to objects.
Rating:
Alexander C. Kane is one of my favorite audiobook authors, as his books are all light-hearted, quirky/silly and funny, yet also intelligent and wise. Compared to many other 4-star average audiobook authors I've listened to, I probably should have given this book a 5, but I reserve 5s for all-time-favorites and this was merely a favorite (not all-time). However, it is probably not fair to compare with his Andrea Vernon series, which are indeed all-time-favorites. He writes like a sit-com writer a la The Office, Parks and Rec, or Friends, where the jokes keep coming. I didn't like this book as much as I thought, or was use to, and immediately listened to this book a 2nd time when finishing, having a better feel for the characters the 2nd time around, and catching a lot more of the jokes. Indeed, I've listened to all his books multiple times and perhaps enjoy them more each listen.
July 20, 2023
Quirky, Crazy Awesomeness
A fighter, a mage, a thief, a giant, and an archer walk into a dragon's lair...
It's either the start of a terrible joke or Alexander Kane's latest romp into literary hijinks! If you're not familiar with the author's work, imagine being the sober one at the bar with an old friend who lives to tell outrageous stories with misfit characters and zany storylines. That'll give you a basic idea of the fun you're in for with this audiobook.
Meet Birdie. She's a Hollywood washout, having peaked in her childhood. Everyone knows her voice, and how barbed her tongue is these days. She's a bitter alcoholic working at her dad's Feed & Seed (& Bagel) by day and taking drunken lawn naps by night. Then she meets the world's smallest dragon and her life begins again.
Each main character in this ensemble fantasy/humor/mystery/adventure is an outcast of one form or another. Some are definitely more likable than others, but none of them are really living their "best life," so to speak. All of them possess a skill that no one else can match at their level... except maybe Birdie. In a classic case of "all of us are smarter than one of us," they band together for a quest no sane person would attempt. What follows is a madcap adventure full of betrayal, deception, self-aggrandizement, and a powerful display of the loyalty of friends.
The narration of this incredible gem is spot-on, invoking a myriad of voicings from the nasal, annoying voice of Birdie to the rich, sonorous sounds of a dragon clan leader's vox. This narration brings to life the fabulously witty, often whimsical, and occasionally profound story of a small arctic dragon and his chance to change the world. If you need an escape from everyday life, grab this audiobook, sit back, and forget about it all for a while. This stuff is golden.
A fighter, a mage, a thief, a giant, and an archer walk into a dragon's lair...
It's either the start of a terrible joke or Alexander Kane's latest romp into literary hijinks! If you're not familiar with the author's work, imagine being the sober one at the bar with an old friend who lives to tell outrageous stories with misfit characters and zany storylines. That'll give you a basic idea of the fun you're in for with this audiobook.
Meet Birdie. She's a Hollywood washout, having peaked in her childhood. Everyone knows her voice, and how barbed her tongue is these days. She's a bitter alcoholic working at her dad's Feed & Seed (& Bagel) by day and taking drunken lawn naps by night. Then she meets the world's smallest dragon and her life begins again.
Each main character in this ensemble fantasy/humor/mystery/adventure is an outcast of one form or another. Some are definitely more likable than others, but none of them are really living their "best life," so to speak. All of them possess a skill that no one else can match at their level... except maybe Birdie. In a classic case of "all of us are smarter than one of us," they band together for a quest no sane person would attempt. What follows is a madcap adventure full of betrayal, deception, self-aggrandizement, and a powerful display of the loyalty of friends.
The narration of this incredible gem is spot-on, invoking a myriad of voicings from the nasal, annoying voice of Birdie to the rich, sonorous sounds of a dragon clan leader's vox. This narration brings to life the fabulously witty, often whimsical, and occasionally profound story of a small arctic dragon and his chance to change the world. If you need an escape from everyday life, grab this audiobook, sit back, and forget about it all for a while. This stuff is golden.
July 19, 2023
(3.75 rounded to 4.0)
Birdie Binkowitz is a grown-up child actor who is beloved by the public but not so much by the cast and crew. Her first movie success was a child’s story with a dragon. But before the sequel can be made, the “REAL” dragons are up from a thousand year nap and take over the world. Now she is living with her father in Tuscaloosa AL. She is sleeping on a neighbor’s lawn after a night of drinking until someone notices a dragon—a small dragon—peeking in her window when someone notices you can only see one eye looking back at you. Although this dragon is small—a regular size house instead of a city block—but he’s there. And he has selected Birdie as his “vox” (a liaison for a dragon to speak through and to learn the language from. Since dragons don’t have human names, she calls him Jim. Jim has a plan to steal their treasure from the other dragons. To do so, he needs a team: a mage, a giant, a fighter, and a thief. Birdie and Jim set out to recruit and plan for how to outwit the dragons. Along the way, they meet a league of colorful characters—both human and dragons.
To begin with, I love dragons and snarky Sci-fi characters. I have never read anything by this author but I need to go and find his other work. This is a warm, funny, found family tale that I hope is going to be a series. There are a lot of plot lines to extend. I laughed out loud, traveled a little and enjoyed the romance element (for the dragons). Recommend to readers who enjoy books featuring urban fantasy, dragons and humor. And it is a great heist story.
Birdie Binkowitz is a grown-up child actor who is beloved by the public but not so much by the cast and crew. Her first movie success was a child’s story with a dragon. But before the sequel can be made, the “REAL” dragons are up from a thousand year nap and take over the world. Now she is living with her father in Tuscaloosa AL. She is sleeping on a neighbor’s lawn after a night of drinking until someone notices a dragon—a small dragon—peeking in her window when someone notices you can only see one eye looking back at you. Although this dragon is small—a regular size house instead of a city block—but he’s there. And he has selected Birdie as his “vox” (a liaison for a dragon to speak through and to learn the language from. Since dragons don’t have human names, she calls him Jim. Jim has a plan to steal their treasure from the other dragons. To do so, he needs a team: a mage, a giant, a fighter, and a thief. Birdie and Jim set out to recruit and plan for how to outwit the dragons. Along the way, they meet a league of colorful characters—both human and dragons.
To begin with, I love dragons and snarky Sci-fi characters. I have never read anything by this author but I need to go and find his other work. This is a warm, funny, found family tale that I hope is going to be a series. There are a lot of plot lines to extend. I laughed out loud, traveled a little and enjoyed the romance element (for the dragons). Recommend to readers who enjoy books featuring urban fantasy, dragons and humor. And it is a great heist story.
July 16, 2023
First time author for me. This was the Audible "book of the day" or something like that, so I came into this fairly cold. It is the type of humor that is unusual - you either like it or you don't.
Regardless, it starts off in a way that took me a couple of tries to get into it. Meaning? Well, I had to restart this audio book a couple of times and relisten to the story before I felt like I actually got into the book. I think it took me about three or four tries.
We are introduced to Birdie Binkowitz - who is a washed up child voice actress and a very unlikeable MC. She ends up being the voice (Vox) of an unusual dragon and things unravel from there.
I have to admit that I am very familiar with the narrator, Khristine Hvam, from the Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock) series. She has a very distinctive voice and it was very easy to let her lead me in this new book. Since this book was a bit on the zany side, she did a pretty good job of distinguishing all of the different characters. There is even a bit of singing required and she even pulled that off.
So- new author and new series. I will say this - I will be looking to see what other books this author has because it was interesting. The set up was very funny, one of those unique types of books that is SO out there that you just have to decide to just go with it. A go with it I did.
Regardless, it starts off in a way that took me a couple of tries to get into it. Meaning? Well, I had to restart this audio book a couple of times and relisten to the story before I felt like I actually got into the book. I think it took me about three or four tries.
We are introduced to Birdie Binkowitz - who is a washed up child voice actress and a very unlikeable MC. She ends up being the voice (Vox) of an unusual dragon and things unravel from there.
I have to admit that I am very familiar with the narrator, Khristine Hvam, from the Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock) series. She has a very distinctive voice and it was very easy to let her lead me in this new book. Since this book was a bit on the zany side, she did a pretty good job of distinguishing all of the different characters. There is even a bit of singing required and she even pulled that off.
So- new author and new series. I will say this - I will be looking to see what other books this author has because it was interesting. The set up was very funny, one of those unique types of books that is SO out there that you just have to decide to just go with it. A go with it I did.
September 10, 2023
I grabbed this book on an Audible Daily Deal for $1.99. Best money spent ever! This book is full of redneck insider humor, sly wit, and magic. Oh, and dragons. It is also touching, a bit poignant, and yet laugh-out-loud moments. I'm familiar with Kristine Hvram, the narrator, from her work on Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series. Wow is she talented! She "got" Alabama! This is my first Alexander C. Kane book and likely won't be my last. A quick recap: A young dragon is abandoned in the arctic because he doesn't fit the mold. When he shows up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, mayhem and hilarity ensues, along with a D&D quest of magical proportions. The characters are delightful, the plot fast-paced with twists and turns, and it ends with a promise of more. I'll be waiting. 5 dragon-fire stars!
July 1, 2023
Yup, another fun one from Alexander C. Kane. The main character has a certain "Orlando" vibe, (maybe a cousin named Gretch) but Birdie makes her anti-charm superpower go to epic proportions. This book could be an interesting study in how to write a really unlikable main character while keeping the audience enthralled with ALL the people she's offended. And Jim the Dragon is an absolutely wonderful character. Actually all the characters were pretty fun. They were given just enough back story to give them some options in approaching challenges but we're left wanting to know more. Will there be more Dragon Heisting? Because this is a fantastic world where Dragons rule and both dragons and humans seem to act like entitled cats. Super snarky and great descriptions of character presentations to the point where I'd say it was visually funny, if that makes any sense.
January 10, 2024
Fantastically fun, cheeky, and with a touch of southern charm. It reads both like the script for a classic fantasy (with a dragon, a giant, a mage, etc.) and also like a modern-day dramedy. It may have been a little hammy, but the entire story refuses to take itself seriously enough for the hammy-ness to do anything other than add to the humor and fun. I can't praise the narrator, Khristine Hvam, enough. Her ability to sound like a famous voice actress (channeling Tara Strong's version of "Twilight Sparkle"), and switch to being a dragon, a southern preacher, a child, or a nerdy college kid was incredible. The whole story felt like an equal performance between the writer and the narrator, working together to present us with this laugh-out-loud gem.
February 11, 2024
I Cannot BELIEVE more people don't know about this book!!
This book is amazing and funny and witty and the most fun read I've had in a long while. I first got it on Audible and liked it so much I needed the eBook too. (The voice actress for the audiobook is also incredible.) It's a ridiculous romp in the way D & D campaigns are. The "hero's quest" of the main protagonist is so well done. She's unlovable in the best way possible, but the dragon who employs her makes up for all her humorous meanness. I wish I had a boss like Jim. You won't want to put this book down once you get into it, but it's a quick read. Can't wait for the next catalogue of this crazy, unlikely team's adventures!
This book is amazing and funny and witty and the most fun read I've had in a long while. I first got it on Audible and liked it so much I needed the eBook too. (The voice actress for the audiobook is also incredible.) It's a ridiculous romp in the way D & D campaigns are. The "hero's quest" of the main protagonist is so well done. She's unlovable in the best way possible, but the dragon who employs her makes up for all her humorous meanness. I wish I had a boss like Jim. You won't want to put this book down once you get into it, but it's a quick read. Can't wait for the next catalogue of this crazy, unlikely team's adventures!
August 14, 2023
The most fun I have had listening to an audio! I randomly grabbed this one on sale. I have never listened/read this author before so I took a chance and was not disappointed. I loved the quirky characters and the stories they had to tell. There are a lot of different people used and they each were colorful. I really have not smiled this much at a book for a while. I highly recommend for your enjoyment.
Narration is amazing! Done by Khristine Hvam who sold me on every character from the voice(s) she used. I ended up slowing down the speed of the story since I did not want to miss a thing!
Narration is amazing! Done by Khristine Hvam who sold me on every character from the voice(s) she used. I ended up slowing down the speed of the story since I did not want to miss a thing!
July 28, 2023
I really freaking loved this book! It was so funny and silly! If you love dragons and good humor, give this book a shot. It was a little fantastical and ridiculous at times, but the author knew what he was doing and leaned into it. I honestly loved how goofy it was. I had a fantastic time listening to this. The narrator absolutely nailed it! I could go on and on, but I think I’ll keep this short and sweet.
September 4, 2023
This rating is for the audible version which I could not bring myself to finish. The story of a washed up actress and a loner dragon might have been good if I could stand to finish it but this takes place in Alabama and the yokel voice narration was excruciating. It was like Hee Haw reading an adventure story. That voice! I have friends from Alabama and they don't sound that hillbilly when trying. Just could not get past the voice enough to finish the story.
January 5, 2024
This was so much fun! It was like watching the Dungeons & Dragons movie but set in modern-day Alabama with dragons. Dragons who have their own in-fighting, politics, and human groupies. The plot has aspects of getting-the-gang-together and then of course, the Heist--which had a surprising heart-tugger in the middle. Humor is top notch and had me laughing out loud--extra kudos to Khristine Hvam for having excellent comic timing.
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