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Drax Guard: Crew Six #1
Flashpoint
Sergeant Cieran O’Donnell has felt frozen in time since he lost his team fourteen months ago to a rogue sorcerer. And when tragedy strikes again, he has no choice but to move forward into a new mission, with a new team, in the same Allied American States Wastelands that claimed lives fourteen months ago.
After all that, the last thing he needs is a heartbond with one of the dragon shifter scouts they encounter in the perilous wastes…
Dragonwalker Scout Athina Spera and her fleet have one mission: track down the escaped sorcerer who wreaked havoc on their Atlantican archipelago and bring him to justice. They’re technically foreign troops in a different country’s no-man’s-land, but her captain is willing to make any alliance if it means capturing their enemy.
Athina is also willing to do whatever is necessary, except keep this heartbond with a human sergeant…
At least they're agreed—suppress the heartbond, find the sorcerer, part ways. Except living ghosts stalk their steps, and nothing ever goes to plan in the Wastelands.
After all that, the last thing he needs is a heartbond with one of the dragon shifter scouts they encounter in the perilous wastes…
Dragonwalker Scout Athina Spera and her fleet have one mission: track down the escaped sorcerer who wreaked havoc on their Atlantican archipelago and bring him to justice. They’re technically foreign troops in a different country’s no-man’s-land, but her captain is willing to make any alliance if it means capturing their enemy.
Athina is also willing to do whatever is necessary, except keep this heartbond with a human sergeant…
At least they're agreed—suppress the heartbond, find the sorcerer, part ways. Except living ghosts stalk their steps, and nothing ever goes to plan in the Wastelands.
178 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Banschbach
15 books119 followersC.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent Hobbit if she weren’t so tall. She’s a pizza addict, a multi-faceted fangirl, and a firm believer in being authentic—even if it means acting like a dork sometimes! When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric physical therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.
She also writesYA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.
She also writesYA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 16, 2024
“They’re fictional. Calm down, Brigitte, they’re FICTIONAL.”
Spoiler: I was not calm.
There’s something about this author’s books that bypasses all armor to hit you right in the heart, but in the best way possible. In this first installment of the Drax Guard series, we’re dropped right into the heart of a soldier who’s lost everything. Nothing really prepares him for the events that serve to bring him out of the darkness…but that’s the beauty that comes with this type of story.
Amid the magic-infused technology, cracking action, and complex characters (glad they’re each getting a story of their own!!), readers may find themselves suddenly faced with the things they dove into books to escape. I know I was, the first time I read this novella. But at the same time, I found those dark patches made lighter by the way the rest of the cast approached them. There’s nothing quite so comforting as someone who will stare down Awful Things alongside you, but does it without making you feel less than. That’s what you’ll find here. That’s what you’ll find in the rest of the series.
This book has a rapid-fire pace, an almost exclusively male cast, romance that doesn’t progress beyond a kiss or two, and worldbuilding where magic is integrated in (but not central to the story). There’s also a lot of action (my stabby self was pleased with this), a bit of swearing (mostly in world-appropriate Elvish), and a focus on friendship/brotherhood.
If these things are your jam, definitely check it out. Just be prepared to get far more attached to fictional spec ops soldiers than you ever thought possible.
Spoiler: I was not calm.
There’s something about this author’s books that bypasses all armor to hit you right in the heart, but in the best way possible. In this first installment of the Drax Guard series, we’re dropped right into the heart of a soldier who’s lost everything. Nothing really prepares him for the events that serve to bring him out of the darkness…but that’s the beauty that comes with this type of story.
Amid the magic-infused technology, cracking action, and complex characters (glad they’re each getting a story of their own!!), readers may find themselves suddenly faced with the things they dove into books to escape. I know I was, the first time I read this novella. But at the same time, I found those dark patches made lighter by the way the rest of the cast approached them. There’s nothing quite so comforting as someone who will stare down Awful Things alongside you, but does it without making you feel less than. That’s what you’ll find here. That’s what you’ll find in the rest of the series.
This book has a rapid-fire pace, an almost exclusively male cast, romance that doesn’t progress beyond a kiss or two, and worldbuilding where magic is integrated in (but not central to the story). There’s also a lot of action (my stabby self was pleased with this), a bit of swearing (mostly in world-appropriate Elvish), and a focus on friendship/brotherhood.
If these things are your jam, definitely check it out. Just be prepared to get far more attached to fictional spec ops soldiers than you ever thought possible.
April 1, 2025
Fear No Fire.
Sergeant Cieran O’Donnell has been called back to the Drax Squad. It’s been 14 months since his squad died, it’s been a week since his sister died and he’s barely holding on by a thread. But when dragonwalkers are spotted in the Wastelands, they need their best tracker on the job. Still reeling from the events that landed him one leg short, Cir must now lead a new squad into the Wastelands to find out why the dragonwalkers are so far out from their territory. What was meant to be a simple observe and report mission, leads to two of the biggest events in his life: his greatest nightmare returned and a possible heartbond.
I fear C.M. Banschbach’s Spirit Valley’s duology might be getting some competition because I loved this. I really loved this. I’m so ready for the rest of the series, especially Remy’s book. I love single-dad father-son stories and I know the author is going to serve.
December 30, 2024
Dangit Claire how did you make me like a fated mates trope
October 17, 2024
Holy cannoli this book was AMAZING. I mean, anything Claire writes is amazing, truly, but this is such a different genre for her. Yet she NAILED IT! Cieran and Co. and Athina and Co. were just so so amazing. I loved them all and the romance?! *Chef’s kiss* (stop saying you don’t do romance, Claire! You do it so well 🤣) All and all and easy five stars and I’m eagerly awaiting the next novella in this series! 😍
August 6, 2025
Reviewing this even though I don't have very profound thoughts because I don't want to forget 😆
It’s so good, even better than when I beta read an earlier version in 2022! I love the different way Claire handled shifters and basically fated mates in this book. I loved the alt-history urban fantasy setting and the worldbuilding. I love how healthy the romance is. I love Cieran’s arc and slow healing and how this book handles PTSD and grief/loss. I love Athina in all her badass but still a normal person glory. I love the found family/band of brothers vibes. Definitely looking forward to reading more in this world and with these characters!
It’s so good, even better than when I beta read an earlier version in 2022! I love the different way Claire handled shifters and basically fated mates in this book. I loved the alt-history urban fantasy setting and the worldbuilding. I love how healthy the romance is. I love Cieran’s arc and slow healing and how this book handles PTSD and grief/loss. I love Athina in all her badass but still a normal person glory. I love the found family/band of brothers vibes. Definitely looking forward to reading more in this world and with these characters!
November 21, 2024
Banschbach does not pull any punches with this one. She tackles some heavy topics here with all her usual tact and precision, showing just enough to cut you deep, and providing just enough hope to heal you again. The action is top notch, and kept me up way too late reading. Not that I’m complaining… 😁
As much as I’m not a fan of first person present POV, I found myself slipping into it with all the same ease I always slip into Claire’s books—effortlessly, immersively. It’s a fascinating world she created here, and I loved getting to know a little of it, as well as the characters.
The bromance is wonderful as is to be expected from Claire’s books, and the romance has that same feel—respect, camaraderie, vulnerability, family. I have fallen so in love with this crew, and can’t wait to follow them on more adventures!
Also appreciating the tall girl rep in this one!!
As much as I’m not a fan of first person present POV, I found myself slipping into it with all the same ease I always slip into Claire’s books—effortlessly, immersively. It’s a fascinating world she created here, and I loved getting to know a little of it, as well as the characters.
The bromance is wonderful as is to be expected from Claire’s books, and the romance has that same feel—respect, camaraderie, vulnerability, family. I have fallen so in love with this crew, and can’t wait to follow them on more adventures!
Also appreciating the tall girl rep in this one!!
August 13, 2025
I loved the concept of this—a reimagining of our world, with humans living alongside elves, fae, and trolls. Cieran and crew quickly became characters I could root for. Athina, too!
The heartbond was an interesting element…and also my least favorite part of the story. 🫣
I mean, I liked Cieran and Athina together, but I guess the idea of two people almost being forced to be attracted to each other didn’t feel romantic to me. But what do I know, guys? I have been informed that I am, in fact, not the most romantic person. 😅
For the length of the story, there was a great balance between character development and action. Cieran’s struggle with grief was compelling, and the story wrapped up well! A good start to the series!
The heartbond was an interesting element…and also my least favorite part of the story. 🫣
I mean, I liked Cieran and Athina together, but I guess the idea of two people almost being forced to be attracted to each other didn’t feel romantic to me. But what do I know, guys? I have been informed that I am, in fact, not the most romantic person. 😅
For the length of the story, there was a great balance between character development and action. Cieran’s struggle with grief was compelling, and the story wrapped up well! A good start to the series!
August 21, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Oh honey, I’m HERE FOR IT! 😍
The Drax Guard has officially stolen my heart. Soldiers, grief, PTSD, epic fights, urban fantasy, brotherhood, banter, dragon shifters—yes please!
It’s a quintessential Claire novel, and she never misses. I teared up more than once, haha, and I’m so ready to binge the rest of the series. Buckle up, heart, it’s time! 🥹
Content: mild language (includes a handful of s-words)
Oh honey, I’m HERE FOR IT! 😍
The Drax Guard has officially stolen my heart. Soldiers, grief, PTSD, epic fights, urban fantasy, brotherhood, banter, dragon shifters—yes please!
It’s a quintessential Claire novel, and she never misses. I teared up more than once, haha, and I’m so ready to binge the rest of the series. Buckle up, heart, it’s time! 🥹
Content: mild language (includes a handful of s-words)
September 19, 2024
Summary
Life seems intent on knocking Cieran down, and this time, he's not sure he's got it in him to get back up. His CO has different plans. Thrust back into the wasteland that features in his nightmares, Cieran finds himself dangerously close to crumbling, and the nightmares aren't done resurrecting.
My Thoughts
I plowed through this book in approximately 36 hours, which speaks for itself. Banschbach's trademark characters (broken and struggling but clinging tenaciously to integrity and courage) keep me eagerly reading her books regardless of her often genre-defying settings. Apparently Flashpoint classifies as urban fantasy, which I wouldn't know since that's not a usual fantasy sub genre for me. It's Oregon and other recognizable locals populated by elves, trolls, shape shifters, and more and magic and magical abilities are just a fact of life. As are heart bonds ... rare, but not that rare. Speaking of, though Banschbach is known for prioritizing found family and sibling relationships over romantic ones, this does have a sweet romance plotline that is squeaky clean. The characters' language is slightly less squeaky.
That's a very long way around of saying, I enjoyed the story and am very much looking forward to reading book two in December.
Content
Romance: Two characters discover they are linked by a heart bond, a fact they are not thrilled to discover and are reluctant to explore. They platonically and practically sleep together several times while on mission and eventually share a kiss and hold hands.
Language: Characters occasionally swear and jokingly make rude gestures at each other.
Violence: A solid dose of fantasy combat, including some mandatory time under the thumb of a sadistic lunatic villain. Lots of injury, nothing particularly graphic.
Religion: One character starts his morning by praying, fingering rosary beads as he does. Cieran contemplated his sister's faith, which he has never quite been able to grasp for himself.
Life seems intent on knocking Cieran down, and this time, he's not sure he's got it in him to get back up. His CO has different plans. Thrust back into the wasteland that features in his nightmares, Cieran finds himself dangerously close to crumbling, and the nightmares aren't done resurrecting.
My Thoughts
I plowed through this book in approximately 36 hours, which speaks for itself. Banschbach's trademark characters (broken and struggling but clinging tenaciously to integrity and courage) keep me eagerly reading her books regardless of her often genre-defying settings. Apparently Flashpoint classifies as urban fantasy, which I wouldn't know since that's not a usual fantasy sub genre for me. It's Oregon and other recognizable locals populated by elves, trolls, shape shifters, and more and magic and magical abilities are just a fact of life. As are heart bonds ... rare, but not that rare. Speaking of, though Banschbach is known for prioritizing found family and sibling relationships over romantic ones, this does have a sweet romance plotline that is squeaky clean. The characters' language is slightly less squeaky.
That's a very long way around of saying, I enjoyed the story and am very much looking forward to reading book two in December.
Content
Romance: Two characters discover they are linked by a heart bond, a fact they are not thrilled to discover and are reluctant to explore. They platonically and practically sleep together several times while on mission and eventually share a kiss and hold hands.
Language: Characters occasionally swear and jokingly make rude gestures at each other.
Violence: A solid dose of fantasy combat, including some mandatory time under the thumb of a sadistic lunatic villain. Lots of injury, nothing particularly graphic.
Religion: One character starts his morning by praying, fingering rosary beads as he does. Cieran contemplated his sister's faith, which he has never quite been able to grasp for himself.
October 15, 2024
*I received an ARC copy of Flashpoint for review*
I have read several books by C.M. Banschbach and have loved them all. But I have to say this one, by far, is my favorite. The urban fantasy world building is so natural and doesn't feel forced at all. The characters immediately grab at your heartstrings and the romance is perfection. 10 out of 10!
I have read several books by C.M. Banschbach and have loved them all. But I have to say this one, by far, is my favorite. The urban fantasy world building is so natural and doesn't feel forced at all. The characters immediately grab at your heartstrings and the romance is perfection. 10 out of 10!
October 15, 2024
Y'all, for me, Banschbach is one of those go-to authors who writes the kinds of stories I want to read—and this latest novel is no exception. Full of deep and hard themes like grief and loss, it carries you through the trenches of one man's trauma and lifts you out again with hope and community as he starts on the road to healing. The genre fusion of urban fantasy and military spec ops is also quite literally the bomb, with fascinating worldbuilding, alternate history, zany monsters, and a modern twist on elves, trolls, and dragons that I cannot get enough of. The brotherhood and snark of Crew Six is a hallmark of Banschbach's stories that keeps me coming back for more, and though sometimes I wanted to cry, I laughed a lot, too. There is so much heart and emotional drive, alongside action and adventure, that I became a temporary insomniac and read the whole thing in one go. Start to finish I was drawn in by the fascinating world, dynamic characters, and gripping story. I can hardly wait to read more about Crew Six!
December 28, 2024
Shit, that was good!
My first Banschbach “novel” and I know for sure it will not be the last!
Thank God she is rapid releasing these novelettes and I don’t have to wait but a few days for book2 !!
I have sighed, laughed out loud, groaned in agony, and squealed in joy … and oh man I want to reread it immediately..!
I also had to put the book aside and sob for a minute or two because TRIGGERS and grief and memories and (fantom) smells are real things and yet, I’d read it again and again.
A reminder to not let triggers take control of your life but let yourself breathe and cry through them when you need to!
Good God it hurts but it feels good when you have something like comforting characters helping you through life.
Thank you, Claire for writing the hard things !!!
My first Banschbach “novel” and I know for sure it will not be the last!
Thank God she is rapid releasing these novelettes and I don’t have to wait but a few days for book2 !!
I have sighed, laughed out loud, groaned in agony, and squealed in joy … and oh man I want to reread it immediately..!
I also had to put the book aside and sob for a minute or two because TRIGGERS and grief and memories and (fantom) smells are real things and yet, I’d read it again and again.
A reminder to not let triggers take control of your life but let yourself breathe and cry through them when you need to!
Good God it hurts but it feels good when you have something like comforting characters helping you through life.
Thank you, Claire for writing the hard things !!!
April 5, 2025
*is happy*
I had the honor of beta reading this book and enjoyed it. Getting to read the final version now is even more epic!
I am always impressed with this awesome author's books. I can always expect to laugh, gasp, and be on the edge of my seat.
I love the themes in this book. We are to bear each other's burdens. We don't have to grieve alone. We can honor those we've lost by remembering them.
Very excited to read more in this series!
PG-13 for language
I had the honor of beta reading this book and enjoyed it. Getting to read the final version now is even more epic!
I am always impressed with this awesome author's books. I can always expect to laugh, gasp, and be on the edge of my seat.
I love the themes in this book. We are to bear each other's burdens. We don't have to grieve alone. We can honor those we've lost by remembering them.
Very excited to read more in this series!
PG-13 for language
October 23, 2024
If Call of Duty met the Lord of the Rings - Flashpoint: Drax Guard would be the first campaign! I absolutely loved this book, literally was kicking my feet, laughing, flapping my hands, and everything in between. C.M. Banschbach has such a phenomenal way of writing about male friendships and in-depth relationships. Her romance writing is everything I always want it to be.
Athina is probably my favorite FMC she’s ever written! I am obsessed with her and Cieran! I loved that they were the same height, she was such a fantastic character. A mix of tough and gentle that complimented Cieran perfectly. I had such a good time reading their relationship grow throughout the book, there's just something about soulmates/heartbonds that don't want to be soulmates at first that just makes me so freaking happy when they finally give in. I absolutely loved the mix of fantasy with realism, such as an added magic system, the species of dragon-walkers, fae, trolls, and more! Cieran deserves all the hugs and love that he could ever get, my heart nearly stopped with one particular chapter upon which I literally gasped and couldn't read fast enough. Cieran's character was given in my opinion a pretty accurate portrayal of survivor's guilt and the state of his own mental health. One thing that I love about this author's writing is that she really portrays men as having strong friendships, brotherly bonds, and men's mental health. It makes her books unique, worthy of being recommended and leaves the readers wanting something different than the already saturated market.
C.M. Banschbach reminded me why I love to read and enjoy her books with Flashpoint and I'm so excited to dive into more of this crew. This book was such a refreshing opening to a wonderful series, I'm looking forward to reading/owning all of them as soon as they come out. Added to the fact that the next book in the series comes out in December, I'm already losing my mind! Excuse me, but I must run to the closest Barnes & Noble and buy myself a few copies of FlashPoint!
Athina is probably my favorite FMC she’s ever written! I am obsessed with her and Cieran! I loved that they were the same height, she was such a fantastic character. A mix of tough and gentle that complimented Cieran perfectly. I had such a good time reading their relationship grow throughout the book, there's just something about soulmates/heartbonds that don't want to be soulmates at first that just makes me so freaking happy when they finally give in. I absolutely loved the mix of fantasy with realism, such as an added magic system, the species of dragon-walkers, fae, trolls, and more! Cieran deserves all the hugs and love that he could ever get, my heart nearly stopped with one particular chapter upon which I literally gasped and couldn't read fast enough. Cieran's character was given in my opinion a pretty accurate portrayal of survivor's guilt and the state of his own mental health. One thing that I love about this author's writing is that she really portrays men as having strong friendships, brotherly bonds, and men's mental health. It makes her books unique, worthy of being recommended and leaves the readers wanting something different than the already saturated market.
C.M. Banschbach reminded me why I love to read and enjoy her books with Flashpoint and I'm so excited to dive into more of this crew. This book was such a refreshing opening to a wonderful series, I'm looking forward to reading/owning all of them as soon as they come out. Added to the fact that the next book in the series comes out in December, I'm already losing my mind! Excuse me, but I must run to the closest Barnes & Noble and buy myself a few copies of FlashPoint!
October 20, 2024
You know how sometimes a book means too much to you, so instead of being able to coherently write about why said book was so good you just…can’t?
That’s me with this book. I adored the characters and the plot and the romance, but there was also something deeper about it that made me feel so very seen. This book has a lot of heart, and it’s what my heart needed.
That’s me with this book. I adored the characters and the plot and the romance, but there was also something deeper about it that made me feel so very seen. This book has a lot of heart, and it’s what my heart needed.
September 21, 2025
-Dual POVs
-Grief/loss and PTSD
-Foster care background
This was such a cool urban fantasy! I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. This story mixes camaraderie, grief, humor, romance and action. I love the idea of a special forces fantasy.
-Grief/loss and PTSD
-Foster care background
This was such a cool urban fantasy! I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. This story mixes camaraderie, grief, humor, romance and action. I love the idea of a special forces fantasy.
September 29, 2024
An exciting new urban fantasy series that will leave you wanting more! Flashpoint is an exciting introduction to this world and these characters that I love already. Our main POVs, Cieran and Athina, are fantastic.
At first, this took awhile for me to get into. But I was eventually hooked. I will say, since this book is so short, the romance is kinda insta-lovey, but honestly, I’m okay with it because the characters have a supernatural connection through a heart bond. I wish we’d had more time for world-building overall, especially concerning that, but I was never confused with the world. I was definitely rooting for the romance.
And the girl being the most protective one? The guy being allowed to break down and his new friends being so supportive? Fantastic dynamics.
This story doesn’t shy away from the hard topics. Cieran is suffering from severe survivor’s guilt, and that grief is something he deals with through the whole story. His experience is never diminished. Instead, he’s given opportunities to wrestle with what happened to him in a healthy environment with other people there for him if he ever needs. His character was handled so well.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of this series. Thankfully, with book 2 releasing in December, I won’t have to wait long! There is a whole cast of characters to explore!
At first, this took awhile for me to get into. But I was eventually hooked. I will say, since this book is so short, the romance is kinda insta-lovey, but honestly, I’m okay with it because the characters have a supernatural connection through a heart bond. I wish we’d had more time for world-building overall, especially concerning that, but I was never confused with the world. I was definitely rooting for the romance.
And the girl being the most protective one? The guy being allowed to break down and his new friends being so supportive? Fantastic dynamics.
This story doesn’t shy away from the hard topics. Cieran is suffering from severe survivor’s guilt, and that grief is something he deals with through the whole story. His experience is never diminished. Instead, he’s given opportunities to wrestle with what happened to him in a healthy environment with other people there for him if he ever needs. His character was handled so well.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of this series. Thankfully, with book 2 releasing in December, I won’t have to wait long! There is a whole cast of characters to explore!
July 24, 2025
So this book. Is INSANELY GOOD. It thought, oh, this looks fun, and then three months later I was STILL thinking about it
Okay, so the world building??? Is SO COOL. The plot?? Even BETTER. And the characters. Oh the CHARACTERS
Cieran is just such a GOOD protagonist. He's so distinct and he's such a good leader and friend. Even though he's going through it in this one, you can still see it in him. And Athina is AWESOME. Lately I've been a little frustrated by female characters who can beat people up, and that's it. Athina is not that. She's got depth, and she cares, and she can set a person on fire, and she's hilarious, and she loves pie. She's AMAZING. And her and Cieran together is the actual cutest, I adore them
I'm also, obviously, CRAZY about Cieran's dynamic with his crews, both new and old. I love the GROWTH. UGH IT'S SO GOOD I CAN'T
So anyways. Clearly, I recommend this book. Read it, you will not regret it
Okay, so the world building??? Is SO COOL. The plot?? Even BETTER. And the characters. Oh the CHARACTERS
Cieran is just such a GOOD protagonist. He's so distinct and he's such a good leader and friend. Even though he's going through it in this one, you can still see it in him. And Athina is AWESOME. Lately I've been a little frustrated by female characters who can beat people up, and that's it. Athina is not that. She's got depth, and she cares, and she can set a person on fire, and she's hilarious, and she loves pie. She's AMAZING. And her and Cieran together is the actual cutest, I adore them
I'm also, obviously, CRAZY about Cieran's dynamic with his crews, both new and old. I love the GROWTH. UGH IT'S SO GOOD I CAN'T
So anyways. Clearly, I recommend this book. Read it, you will not regret it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
There are good books, then there are books that curl around your heart, coax tears out of it, fill the cracks with a soothing balm, and flood it with warmth. Flashpoint is the latter.
Claire's writing is precise, cutting, and quick. She keeps the pace moving at a clip, without sacrificing a note of softness. The bonds between each character, dead or alive are a tension that's ever present, never forgetting who they are and who they fight for. The team dynamics are so well written, and the bond between the two main characters is achingly everything to me.
Now excuse me while I go read everything Claire has ever written while I lie in wait for everything she will ever write. If you're looking for me, I'm in one of Claire's books eating pie and sobbing.
Claire's writing is precise, cutting, and quick. She keeps the pace moving at a clip, without sacrificing a note of softness. The bonds between each character, dead or alive are a tension that's ever present, never forgetting who they are and who they fight for. The team dynamics are so well written, and the bond between the two main characters is achingly everything to me.
Now excuse me while I go read everything Claire has ever written while I lie in wait for everything she will ever write. If you're looking for me, I'm in one of Claire's books eating pie and sobbing.
October 7, 2024
I can’t even say how excited I am for this book.
RTC very soon!
RTC very soon!
October 18, 2025
This was a buddy-read with my brother, since the first couple chapters with the military spec-ops protagonist seemed similar to the type of book he would read or write, but the further we got into it, the more I regretted suggesting it to him.
Many of the plot points felt contrived, stuck in to make the story progress in a certain direction rather than seeming like a natural development from the characters' dynamics, their choices, the setting/world, or the previous actions. Likewise, the relationship developments didn't feel earned: not the romantic developments between the guy and the girl, not the team-building between the guy and his new squad, not the guy's vulnerability or emotional processing with his team as he grappled with PTSD. It kept feeling like "this is happening now because I'm the author and I say so" rather than because the characters progressed to that point through natural cause and effect.
The pacing was off, with exposition in the middle of action or world-building elements abruptly explained after they were suddenly necessary to force the plot in a certain direction, rather than being foreshadowed earlier so that the development felt organic. On a sentence level, the writing was functional, but it often felt stilted or lacked flow. The POV characters sounded the same, without distinction between their voices. (At the start of the girl's first chapter, I got excited because the voice did sound different — the sentences were longer and their structure more varied, the vocabulary was more ornate, there was more imagery rather than flat statements — but then a few paragraphs later the distinction completely disappeared and I realized that the author had just been waxing poetic for some reason.)
Regardless of who the POV was, the way the character would reference other characters would shift, even within the same paragraph. I suspect that the author was trying to vary her references to avoid repeating one person's name multiple times on a page, since she rotated through about three or four different ways of referencing each character (e.g., surname, first name or nickname, role/title, physical description), but she didn't take context or character voice consistency into account and the variations came off as arbitrary and unnatural. For example, the guy refers to his commanding officer by the man's title/role, the man's first name, and the man's surname, all on the same page, within his own thoughts, when they are the only two characters present. A switch would make sense if he was referring to the officer one way to the man's face and another way to one of his buddies, but there was nothing to excuse the random substitutions — especially not in this particular case, when he refers to his commander by his first name!
That brings up another point: military credibility. The author was clearly trying to create a feel of authenticity, but she kept making mistakes that undercut her efforts. Take the main character with PTSD: he wouldn't get sent out on a mission, no matter how useful his skills were, if his superiors thought his mental state would pose a risk. And given how unglued he becomes and how quickly, he very obviously poses a risk, one that the military would have screened for. The sense of hierarchy and protocol was also lacking, and although that might be laxer for a spec-ops unit, the portrayal still felt insufficient. Also, when the crew finally had eyes on the super dangerous, high-value target, why did they attack the henchmen first? And when said target got distracted in the middle of a sword fight (yes, sword, I'll get to that), why would the special-ops soldier whose best friends were murdered by this guy crane his neck to see what he was looking at instead of finishing him off? And then why did the crew choose to hack one of their own out of a trap and let their high-value, mass-murderer target and his entire team get away when they could have neutralized him right then and there? Sure, it's the trolley problem, and no one wants their comrades to die when they could save them, but would so many soldiers really ignore a mission to that degree? Its completion was within their grasp and they would have been saving so many lives by finishing it then.
In a similar vein, the villains were inept in ways that made it hard to believe they were as dangerous as they were purported to be. For example, the two POV characters were captured and thrown into one of many pits. In the words of my brother, "Why haven’t they been separated? That’s generic evil villainy 101! That they’re still alive is forgivable. That they’ve been left unsupervised and together is enough to revoke Andrej’s villain card and send him back for remedial imprisonment training." The villain toyed with them, sure, to Be Evil, but then after he realized that they were planning something, instead of killing them or separating them he just... left them together unsupervised again?? The amount of times the heroes didn't finish off the villains and the villains didn't kill the heroes was baffling.
So, swords, right? The setting is supposed to be, as far as I can tell, a modern America with an alternate history, but although they have magically powered buses and all the normal tech of modern life, such as electricity and computers and coffeemakers and IV drips, just with the added benefit of magic — why don't they have firearms? They're out here fighting with swords, shields, bows, arrows, knives, and spells, and they're fighting dragons. This is a world with griffons and giant spiders and all sorts of horrid beasties, not to mention humans with ranged magic, and they have... no guns? None at all? Muskets were in widespread use in the 1500s. Matchlock arquebuses came into use around the mid-1400s. Gunpowder has existed since the ninth century: the first known written formula was written in China in 808, and gunpowder was used with arrows in the early 900s and propelled rocket-type projectiles by the 970s. And you expect me to believe that this world is set in the 2000s and no one has invented gunpowder??? No magic-less human went, "Huh, how could I cause long-range K.O. damage?" or even just "What if I made explode-y things?! :D" You expect me to believe that for hundreds of years humans decided to take nothing more powerful than throwing knives and arrows to fight giant winged creatures that can breathe fire or wily magical people that can cast explosive magic or throw magic grenades? And even now, when you've got the advanced tech to have lightweight, glove-fit body-armor and shields that can deploy from and collapse into a bracelet, why do you not have guns or blasters or flamethrowers or something?
Overall, this book felt more like a second or third draft than a finished product. It had a lot of potential and I was rooting for it to improve, but it kept introducing further problems rather than making up for places it had already stumbled. I'd been intrigued by this series' premise and fairly hopeful I might have found a new indie author to follow, but after that round of disappointments, I won't be reading the other books.
Many of the plot points felt contrived, stuck in to make the story progress in a certain direction rather than seeming like a natural development from the characters' dynamics, their choices, the setting/world, or the previous actions. Likewise, the relationship developments didn't feel earned: not the romantic developments between the guy and the girl, not the team-building between the guy and his new squad, not the guy's vulnerability or emotional processing with his team as he grappled with PTSD. It kept feeling like "this is happening now because I'm the author and I say so" rather than because the characters progressed to that point through natural cause and effect.
The pacing was off, with exposition in the middle of action or world-building elements abruptly explained after they were suddenly necessary to force the plot in a certain direction, rather than being foreshadowed earlier so that the development felt organic. On a sentence level, the writing was functional, but it often felt stilted or lacked flow. The POV characters sounded the same, without distinction between their voices. (At the start of the girl's first chapter, I got excited because the voice did sound different — the sentences were longer and their structure more varied, the vocabulary was more ornate, there was more imagery rather than flat statements — but then a few paragraphs later the distinction completely disappeared and I realized that the author had just been waxing poetic for some reason.)
Regardless of who the POV was, the way the character would reference other characters would shift, even within the same paragraph. I suspect that the author was trying to vary her references to avoid repeating one person's name multiple times on a page, since she rotated through about three or four different ways of referencing each character (e.g., surname, first name or nickname, role/title, physical description), but she didn't take context or character voice consistency into account and the variations came off as arbitrary and unnatural. For example, the guy refers to his commanding officer by the man's title/role, the man's first name, and the man's surname, all on the same page, within his own thoughts, when they are the only two characters present. A switch would make sense if he was referring to the officer one way to the man's face and another way to one of his buddies, but there was nothing to excuse the random substitutions — especially not in this particular case, when he refers to his commander by his first name!
That brings up another point: military credibility. The author was clearly trying to create a feel of authenticity, but she kept making mistakes that undercut her efforts. Take the main character with PTSD: he wouldn't get sent out on a mission, no matter how useful his skills were, if his superiors thought his mental state would pose a risk. And given how unglued he becomes and how quickly, he very obviously poses a risk, one that the military would have screened for. The sense of hierarchy and protocol was also lacking, and although that might be laxer for a spec-ops unit, the portrayal still felt insufficient. Also, when the crew finally had eyes on the super dangerous, high-value target, why did they attack the henchmen first? And when said target got distracted in the middle of a sword fight (yes, sword, I'll get to that), why would the special-ops soldier whose best friends were murdered by this guy crane his neck to see what he was looking at instead of finishing him off? And then why did the crew choose to hack one of their own out of a trap and let their high-value, mass-murderer target and his entire team get away when they could have neutralized him right then and there? Sure, it's the trolley problem, and no one wants their comrades to die when they could save them, but would so many soldiers really ignore a mission to that degree? Its completion was within their grasp and they would have been saving so many lives by finishing it then.
In a similar vein, the villains were inept in ways that made it hard to believe they were as dangerous as they were purported to be. For example, the two POV characters were captured and thrown into one of many pits. In the words of my brother, "Why haven’t they been separated? That’s generic evil villainy 101! That they’re still alive is forgivable. That they’ve been left unsupervised and together is enough to revoke Andrej’s villain card and send him back for remedial imprisonment training." The villain toyed with them, sure, to Be Evil, but then after he realized that they were planning something, instead of killing them or separating them he just... left them together unsupervised again?? The amount of times the heroes didn't finish off the villains and the villains didn't kill the heroes was baffling.
So, swords, right? The setting is supposed to be, as far as I can tell, a modern America with an alternate history, but although they have magically powered buses and all the normal tech of modern life, such as electricity and computers and coffeemakers and IV drips, just with the added benefit of magic — why don't they have firearms? They're out here fighting with swords, shields, bows, arrows, knives, and spells, and they're fighting dragons. This is a world with griffons and giant spiders and all sorts of horrid beasties, not to mention humans with ranged magic, and they have... no guns? None at all? Muskets were in widespread use in the 1500s. Matchlock arquebuses came into use around the mid-1400s. Gunpowder has existed since the ninth century: the first known written formula was written in China in 808, and gunpowder was used with arrows in the early 900s and propelled rocket-type projectiles by the 970s. And you expect me to believe that this world is set in the 2000s and no one has invented gunpowder??? No magic-less human went, "Huh, how could I cause long-range K.O. damage?" or even just "What if I made explode-y things?! :D" You expect me to believe that for hundreds of years humans decided to take nothing more powerful than throwing knives and arrows to fight giant winged creatures that can breathe fire or wily magical people that can cast explosive magic or throw magic grenades? And even now, when you've got the advanced tech to have lightweight, glove-fit body-armor and shields that can deploy from and collapse into a bracelet, why do you not have guns or blasters or flamethrowers or something?
Overall, this book felt more like a second or third draft than a finished product. It had a lot of potential and I was rooting for it to improve, but it kept introducing further problems rather than making up for places it had already stumbled. I'd been intrigued by this series' premise and fairly hopeful I might have found a new indie author to follow, but after that round of disappointments, I won't be reading the other books.
August 25, 2025
I just finished rereading this book so I could write a review and it is SUCH a good first book in a series. Amazing introduction to the world and the characters, incredible world building in general. The first time through you're just basking in the world and the story and the romance, which is INCREDIBLE, and the second time you'll pick up all these little details that hint at/parallel future books. It's absolutely masterfully written!!
The characters are already so human and real feeling, and I adore them. Cieran will probably always be my favorite but it's a CLOSE call, because Dejan. And Athina. And Remy, Besim, and like eight others who don't even show up in this book.
The topic of grief and loss is so beautifully handled, and I love the supportive relationship the entire crew has. It's beautiful and I adore the whole thing. DEFINITELY check this book out, you will not regret it!! It's a new favorite for sure.
The characters are already so human and real feeling, and I adore them. Cieran will probably always be my favorite but it's a CLOSE call, because Dejan. And Athina. And Remy, Besim, and like eight others who don't even show up in this book.
The topic of grief and loss is so beautifully handled, and I love the supportive relationship the entire crew has. It's beautiful and I adore the whole thing. DEFINITELY check this book out, you will not regret it!! It's a new favorite for sure.
June 24, 2025
How can I possibly put into words what this story did to me? I think the best way to sum it all up is to say that it's a deeply **human** story, teeming with pain, and despair, and hope, and laughter and disappointment and heartache and second chances and beauty. It was as satisfying as it was heartbreaking, and I look forward to re-reading it soon so I can go ham with highlights and annotations.
First of all, I had no idea there was a dragonshifter x human romance and a soulmates trope in this book and I don't know if I would have tried it if I had known (thank goodness I never read the blurb!), but that was just because I've never read these tropes the way C.M. writes it. It wasn't cringey or weird even once.
In fact, I think I might have a heart bond with these two, because I literally can't stop thinking about them. I was giggling and kicking my feet one minute, then laughing hysterically at their banter the next, and then desperately swiping away tears as they shared their deepest struggles and slowly opened up to each other.
It was healthy, it was believable, and it was incredibly adorable.
Athina is strong but vulnerable, yet somehow this never felt the least bit cliche. I adore her spunkiness and her blunt personality. She is tender with Cieran when he needs her to be, but doesn't shy away from truth. And Cieran--poor, broken, stubborn, grief-stricken Cieran--is such a fighter and such a deeply loyal and caring character.... I don't know what else to say about him except that he felt incredibly real, and made my heart viscerally ache.
And the romance isn't the only relationship to love in this story, because the military brotherhood is 🤌🤌🤌 *CHEFS KISS* The way he slowly warmed up to Crew Six, and learned to let them help soothe his grief, left me with tears in my eyes and warmth in my heart.
As for the world building, you won't be surprised by now to find that it was also perfection. Alternate history + urban fantasy with clear rules and depth that never felt overcomplicated or exposition dumped. The incorporation of magic and fantasy races felt seamless and realistic (silly as that may sound lol) and I'm so glad there's more of these books because I want to see more of their world!
There are a million more things to say, but I'll close with a comment on the **writing style.** UGH. Incredible. There are so many clever turns of phrase that were just... tasty (for lack of a better description lol). The action (which is plentiful) is perfectly written: swift, powerful, clear and emotional. The dialogue and inner monologues feel so real and gave me aaaalllllll the feels a few times.
If you're still reading this review, you need to stop immediately and order the whole series. I know that's what I'll be doing.
⚠️For any teens reading this review, I will mention some CONTENT to be aware of: swearing scattered throughout (it is a military book after all) and some intense action and occasional violence. It's clearly written for an adult audience, but never goes to any extreme with gore and the romance is completely clean.
First of all, I had no idea there was a dragonshifter x human romance and a soulmates trope in this book and I don't know if I would have tried it if I had known (thank goodness I never read the blurb!), but that was just because I've never read these tropes the way C.M. writes it. It wasn't cringey or weird even once.
In fact, I think I might have a heart bond with these two, because I literally can't stop thinking about them. I was giggling and kicking my feet one minute, then laughing hysterically at their banter the next, and then desperately swiping away tears as they shared their deepest struggles and slowly opened up to each other.
It was healthy, it was believable, and it was incredibly adorable.
Athina is strong but vulnerable, yet somehow this never felt the least bit cliche. I adore her spunkiness and her blunt personality. She is tender with Cieran when he needs her to be, but doesn't shy away from truth. And Cieran--poor, broken, stubborn, grief-stricken Cieran--is such a fighter and such a deeply loyal and caring character.... I don't know what else to say about him except that he felt incredibly real, and made my heart viscerally ache.
And the romance isn't the only relationship to love in this story, because the military brotherhood is 🤌🤌🤌 *CHEFS KISS* The way he slowly warmed up to Crew Six, and learned to let them help soothe his grief, left me with tears in my eyes and warmth in my heart.
As for the world building, you won't be surprised by now to find that it was also perfection. Alternate history + urban fantasy with clear rules and depth that never felt overcomplicated or exposition dumped. The incorporation of magic and fantasy races felt seamless and realistic (silly as that may sound lol) and I'm so glad there's more of these books because I want to see more of their world!
There are a million more things to say, but I'll close with a comment on the **writing style.** UGH. Incredible. There are so many clever turns of phrase that were just... tasty (for lack of a better description lol). The action (which is plentiful) is perfectly written: swift, powerful, clear and emotional. The dialogue and inner monologues feel so real and gave me aaaalllllll the feels a few times.
If you're still reading this review, you need to stop immediately and order the whole series. I know that's what I'll be doing.
⚠️For any teens reading this review, I will mention some CONTENT to be aware of: swearing scattered throughout (it is a military book after all) and some intense action and occasional violence. It's clearly written for an adult audience, but never goes to any extreme with gore and the romance is completely clean.
June 23, 2025
(Don't) send help! I have fallen (into yet another fictional world) and I can't get up!
I used to think I was a medieval fantasy kind of gal, but APPARENTLY I'll read any genre and love it so long as the author does a good job.
Anyway, the story here was interesting, the plot was laid out nicely, the characters I felt for, and the world I could see.
I don't know if the tropes used here are cliché or not, since this is the first time I have read urban fantasy, but I really did like them. The romance was adorable, the comradery believable, and I did get a satisfied feeling when justice was ultimately meted out.
Content:
The violence was actually minimal, considering the subject matter. Death is present, but you know that already. Swear words are spelled out rather than implied in this book, but considering the fact that every character was military, I don't mind the language. There was maybe a kiss, but no smut present.
Magic is present, but the genre implies that.
I'll usually drop any book with actual swear words typed in, and a lot of magic stuff makes me uncomfortable, but this one was well done enough to merit a pass.
Now that I think about it, this was pretty clean, all things considered.
My mind is having trouble with the fact that this book was as short as it was... somehow, the author managed to pack an entire movie's worth of story into a novella and do it really well!
I love these characters, and I love this story.
I used to think I was a medieval fantasy kind of gal, but APPARENTLY I'll read any genre and love it so long as the author does a good job.
Anyway, the story here was interesting, the plot was laid out nicely, the characters I felt for, and the world I could see.
I don't know if the tropes used here are cliché or not, since this is the first time I have read urban fantasy, but I really did like them. The romance was adorable, the comradery believable, and I did get a satisfied feeling when justice was ultimately meted out.
Content:
The violence was actually minimal, considering the subject matter. Death is present, but you know that already. Swear words are spelled out rather than implied in this book, but considering the fact that every character was military, I don't mind the language. There was maybe a kiss, but no smut present.
Magic is present, but the genre implies that.
I'll usually drop any book with actual swear words typed in, and a lot of magic stuff makes me uncomfortable, but this one was well done enough to merit a pass.
Now that I think about it, this was pretty clean, all things considered.
My mind is having trouble with the fact that this book was as short as it was... somehow, the author managed to pack an entire movie's worth of story into a novella and do it really well!
I love these characters, and I love this story.
October 23, 2024
Gah! I am not a shifter trope fan, but I don't hate it, and this book made me really, really like it..for this book at least. Cieran O'Donnell, a hardworking sergeant out near the west coast meets his match--literally--in the wastelands when word of rare Dragonwalkers need investigating. Athina Spera and her crew are only wandering around the deserted place because a less-than-good, and downright evil, warlock is reeking havoc and needs to be dealt with.
Problem is, this evil dude is supposed to be dead already.
Flashpoint is a wonderful military-esque urban fantasy with all the different races of beings and a wonderful balance of magic, old-world weaponry, and present day issues and technology. The anachronistic quality of the story is appealing and fits well with the atmosphere of C. M. Banschbach's writing style.
I totally recommend this book to adult readers of fantasy, urban fantasy and sweet, slow-burn shifter romances who like something out of the norm.
I did receive an ARC of Flashpoint from the author, but this review is all my own because I enjoyed the book so much and hope you will too! Let me know if you do. :)
Problem is, this evil dude is supposed to be dead already.
Flashpoint is a wonderful military-esque urban fantasy with all the different races of beings and a wonderful balance of magic, old-world weaponry, and present day issues and technology. The anachronistic quality of the story is appealing and fits well with the atmosphere of C. M. Banschbach's writing style.
I totally recommend this book to adult readers of fantasy, urban fantasy and sweet, slow-burn shifter romances who like something out of the norm.
I did receive an ARC of Flashpoint from the author, but this review is all my own because I enjoyed the book so much and hope you will too! Let me know if you do. :)
October 9, 2024
I absolutely LOVED this novella. The worldbuilding was vibrant and SO COOL, and the brotherhood and found family were absolutely delightful (my favorite tropes really).
There were many feels, and I felt for Cieran as he struggled with his grief and the trauma that was coupled with past events. The more I understood his pain the harder I wanted to see him heal.
Athina is an absolute BOSS and dragonshifters overall just sound so cool! I loved how she present a tough exterior, but when she and Cieran interact... the warm fuzzies abound. <3
The rest of Crew Six are all just super crazy fun too. I really appreciated some of the hints for how to pronounce names. It was slipped it so easily that it added to the personality of characters than just a blunt "you pronounce it this way".
Claire has constructed an amazing world and the magic system is really cool and the characters all are so great, even when we don't go deep into their own stories. But you can still get hints to what might be ahead in other stories (some I fear will be super feelsy and I'm not sure I'm ready XD).
There were many feels, and I felt for Cieran as he struggled with his grief and the trauma that was coupled with past events. The more I understood his pain the harder I wanted to see him heal.
Athina is an absolute BOSS and dragonshifters overall just sound so cool! I loved how she present a tough exterior, but when she and Cieran interact... the warm fuzzies abound. <3
The rest of Crew Six are all just super crazy fun too. I really appreciated some of the hints for how to pronounce names. It was slipped it so easily that it added to the personality of characters than just a blunt "you pronounce it this way".
Claire has constructed an amazing world and the magic system is really cool and the characters all are so great, even when we don't go deep into their own stories. But you can still get hints to what might be ahead in other stories (some I fear will be super feelsy and I'm not sure I'm ready XD).
October 15, 2024
An exciting beginning to a much-awaited series! I really enjoyed this book. As with all the books I've read by this author, the characters drew me immediately into a futuristic landscape rich with history and fantastical people groups like elves, trolls, and dragonwalkers, where special forces units battle sorcerers in wild wastelands. Without shying away from the gritty reality of war, the author focuses on hope and friendship, displaying a positive message from a dystopian landscape.
I especially loved some of the dynamics with Cieran and Athina. They were so protective of each other, but not to an unhealthy extent. When Cieran needed to break down, both she and his friends were there for him in such a beautiful way. This book made me laugh and almost cry once or twice--which for me is an automatic 5-star review!
I can't wait to read the rest of the Crew Six's stories!
I especially loved some of the dynamics with Cieran and Athina. They were so protective of each other, but not to an unhealthy extent. When Cieran needed to break down, both she and his friends were there for him in such a beautiful way. This book made me laugh and almost cry once or twice--which for me is an automatic 5-star review!
I can't wait to read the rest of the Crew Six's stories!
October 15, 2025
This was so, so fun. I will preface my review by saying that I read very little romance fantasy/ sci-fi novels, I mostly enjoy reading fast-paced YA books heavy on the action with light/ clean romantic subplots. This book leans more into the romance category (though is it sci fi? is it fantasy? I don't care but I like it either which way) but there was PLENTY of action to keep me gripped and I was actually rooting for Cieran + Athina the whole time. If you like Timothy Zahn's Luke Skywalker + Mara Jade enemies to lovers plot line from the Star Wars Legends timeline books you will love this. (This also gave me slight Aaron Allston x-wing crew vibes occasionally which was both nostalgic for me and amusing.) The side characters were super fun and the plot moved quickly which I also like. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series soon.
December 25, 2025
Really sweet. Cir and Athina made me giggle. Probably will read the rest of this series on ebook but glad I own the first one as a hardcopy. I really loved the dragonwalkers having Greek names (Athina Spera is my new favorite literary name) and the overall military setting. Salivating over the little details we got about all the other crew members' personal lives and families. Also Chapter 1 is a work of art! One of the most compelling character + world intros I've seen in a hot minute.
Content: more and slightly stronger language than I expected, though I knew to expect some. Genre-typical violence and peril; thematically, lots of focus on loss and the messy emotions of our very PTSD-riddled sergeant. Some jokes about things getting "heated" when the heartbonded couple sleeps next to each other for warmth. Overall vibes late teens and up.
Content: more and slightly stronger language than I expected, though I knew to expect some. Genre-typical violence and peril; thematically, lots of focus on loss and the messy emotions of our very PTSD-riddled sergeant. Some jokes about things getting "heated" when the heartbonded couple sleeps next to each other for warmth. Overall vibes late teens and up.
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed it! It starts with a grieving soldier forced back into the field after suffering the loss of his entire team and a limb on a mission gone awry months before and the death of his only remaining family, his sister, mere days ago.
Then they introduce shapeshifting dragons and "heartbonds", a variation on soulmates. (And I think it was originally more of a spoof of the concept but then I think the author started really enjoying her version. Justifiably.)
Apart from the unwanted and problematic heartbond between Cieran and Athina, Cieran is also struggling with leading a new team and whether he even wants to be in the field anymore.
A solid start to a new series!
Then they introduce shapeshifting dragons and "heartbonds", a variation on soulmates. (And I think it was originally more of a spoof of the concept but then I think the author started really enjoying her version. Justifiably.)
Apart from the unwanted and problematic heartbond between Cieran and Athina, Cieran is also struggling with leading a new team and whether he even wants to be in the field anymore.
A solid start to a new series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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