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Slaying Dragons
Devi has about had it with mages. All she wants to do is her job, which is slaying the dragons and other beasts that plague the country. She doesn't have time or energy to spare for coddling or pandering to the fussy mages she keeps getting stuck with as partners. Unfortunately, her last mage was also a noble with clout, and Devi has the feeling her days as a Combatant are numbered.
Instead of reprimand or termination however, she winds up with a new assignment and a new Noeme, who is competent, friendly, distractingly attractive—and far too good to be true.
Instead of reprimand or termination however, she winds up with a new assignment and a new Noeme, who is competent, friendly, distractingly attractive—and far too good to be true.
75 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
211 people want to read
About the author
Sasha L. Miller
59 books231 followersSasha L. Miller spends most of her time writing, reading, or playing with all things website design. She loves telling stories, especially romance, because there’s nothing better than giving people their happily ever afters. When not writing, she spends time cooking, harassing her roommates, and playing with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 2, 2018
There were some interesting elements to this story, but it just didn't click for me. For one, I thought that the writing style didn't fit the length - for such a short story, there was too much bland exposition that didn't do enough to distinguish the setting or characters.. The book should have either been expanded to a full-length story or the writing should have been tightened. I wanted, in particular, stronger development of the romance and a better sense of Devi's relationship to her employer.
My bigger issue with the story, however, was my discomfort with the main conflict of the romance. I think there are some serious ethical issues here that are really not well-examined, and it totally soured me on the story. MAJOR SPOILERS! None of these are disqualifying subjects on their own, but I really, really needed these issues to be addressed more thoroughly.
My bigger issue with the story, however, was my discomfort with the main conflict of the romance. I think there are some serious ethical issues here that are really not well-examined, and it totally soured me on the story. MAJOR SPOILERS! None of these are disqualifying subjects on their own, but I really, really needed these issues to be addressed more thoroughly.
August 18, 2018
This novella starts off quickly. We’re immediately introduced to Devi who is a Combatant which is a dragon-slayer. She just finished an assignment with a mage with whom she clashed and who filed a complaint against her. Expecting to be censured, she instead is paired with the mage Noemi to go kill a dragon. Most of the book is from Devi’s perspective. She isn’t sure what to think of Noemi. Much of the book revolves their growing friendship and respect for each other. Neither had much luck with the other type of dragon killer (mage or combatant).
There is this growing attraction between them but there is also the tension of going after a dragon. For a short novella, there is a lot packed in to these few words – how the rest of the world views dragons and the slayers, the tensions between different factions, the descriptions of different dragons, and development of the characters, not to mention the rest of the world-building. It was really well done. There are some typos, but overall this is a well written book and I want more from this author.
There is this growing attraction between them but there is also the tension of going after a dragon. For a short novella, there is a lot packed in to these few words – how the rest of the world views dragons and the slayers, the tensions between different factions, the descriptions of different dragons, and development of the characters, not to mention the rest of the world-building. It was really well done. There are some typos, but overall this is a well written book and I want more from this author.
November 18, 2017
This is a nice short read. I enjoy every bit of it. And i really like Noeme alot. She seem like a sweet girl/woman. Because of this is short so it’s only has one adventure that both leads had went through together so yeah.. err idk why i said that but i think, wishfully that it would be more. I enjoy this book anyway :)
June 17, 2017
Devi is my perfect too-tired-for-this-nonsense child and I love her. Plus Noeme is super sweet and super perf for her and girlfriends forever okay? okay.
May 28, 2016
I received a copy of Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller from NetGalley and Less Than Three Press in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally appeared at: http://www.nikkilizmurray.com/review-...
Slaying Dragons is a novella of about 28,000 words, and each one of those words lingers. For a small story, there is a lot of world building done. The unnamed location is plagued by dragons, basilisks, wyrms, and other fantastic monsters. An organization comprised of mages and knights exists to eliminate these threats. Mages and combatants are paired temporarily to take on an assignment to kill one of these beasts, and then they receive new orders usually with a new partner.
Devi, a strong woman with years of training, has not had so much luck in this department lately. After a series of bad partners lands her in hot water, she is surprised she has a new assignment but hopeful that the new partner won’t be as terrible as the noble who wanted the glory of being a battle mage without the work. Noeme, the mage, seems knowledgeable even if she’s never battled a dragon. Devi is cautiously hopeful.
As a reader, I was instantly rooting for Noeme and Devi. The attraction between the two was palpable and a pleasure to read. However, the will-they/won’t-they never detracted from the action of their dragon-slaying assignment. Likewise, the dragon-slaying action enhanced the will-they/won’t-they in a way that never felt contrived.
Also, the ending was perfect and amazing and everything I ever could have asked for in an amazing novella of two cool ladies slaying dragons.
The pacing felt slightly off, as I expected the climax to be the dragon-slaying, but, spoilers. Once I figured this out, (and once Devi does, too), everything else seemed to fall into place, and the pacing seemed obvious. As this was an ARC, there were a few errors I noticed (at one point, near the end, Devi is referred to as a mage, when she’s very clearly not!) which I hope will be corrected for publication. Check out Less Than Three press to pre-order.
Overall, read this if you want a fun short story of ladies killing dragons. Don’t read this if you don’t think ladies can kill dragons.
This review originally appeared at: http://www.nikkilizmurray.com/review-...
Slaying Dragons is a novella of about 28,000 words, and each one of those words lingers. For a small story, there is a lot of world building done. The unnamed location is plagued by dragons, basilisks, wyrms, and other fantastic monsters. An organization comprised of mages and knights exists to eliminate these threats. Mages and combatants are paired temporarily to take on an assignment to kill one of these beasts, and then they receive new orders usually with a new partner.
Devi, a strong woman with years of training, has not had so much luck in this department lately. After a series of bad partners lands her in hot water, she is surprised she has a new assignment but hopeful that the new partner won’t be as terrible as the noble who wanted the glory of being a battle mage without the work. Noeme, the mage, seems knowledgeable even if she’s never battled a dragon. Devi is cautiously hopeful.
As a reader, I was instantly rooting for Noeme and Devi. The attraction between the two was palpable and a pleasure to read. However, the will-they/won’t-they never detracted from the action of their dragon-slaying assignment. Likewise, the dragon-slaying action enhanced the will-they/won’t-they in a way that never felt contrived.
Also, the ending was perfect and amazing and everything I ever could have asked for in an amazing novella of two cool ladies slaying dragons.
The pacing felt slightly off, as I expected the climax to be the dragon-slaying, but, spoilers. Once I figured this out, (and once Devi does, too), everything else seemed to fall into place, and the pacing seemed obvious. As this was an ARC, there were a few errors I noticed (at one point, near the end, Devi is referred to as a mage, when she’s very clearly not!) which I hope will be corrected for publication. Check out Less Than Three press to pre-order.
Overall, read this if you want a fun short story of ladies killing dragons. Don’t read this if you don’t think ladies can kill dragons.
September 3, 2015
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this quick slice of fantasy. It has a fairly standard setting – dragons, mages, combatants/knights, a pseudo-Medieval European setting – which most readers will be familiar and comfortable with. Fans of Sasha L. Miller will also be familiar with her style of pitching a grumpy character against a much more easy going one. In this case Devi is the grumpy combatant who is fed up of rich, whiny mages getting in the way when she’s trying to do her job.
I would have liked to have known more about what happened between her and her previous mage partner, since the potential reprimand weighs on Devi’s thoughts a fair bit throughout the book, and perhaps a bit more about the other mages she’s clashed with. Devi’s not the most likeable character, being very prickly, with a hefty chip on her shoulder regarding wealthy mages and her own personal reasons for becoming a combatant, so it might have been nice to know what really went on (even from her pov) to see whether she really was to blame in all cases.
Luckily, Noeme is her complete opposite. Not that we get to know her all that well, but she tends to smile and maintain a cheerful attitude even when Devi’s being her most anti-mage. She also proves herself to be competent, which is nice. However, it seems she too has frequently been partnered with less decent combatants, making it seem as if these two are the only professional people out there.
I liked the different classes of dragons that the pair discuss on their way to deal with the threat, but I have to admit it might have been nice to have had more dragons. Or at least more dragon time. Still, this is only a novella and the plot is definitely split between dragon threat and romance, so I suppose the romance trumped any more dragon action. The romance itself is sweet and fairly straightforward, showing a softer side to Devi – which is definitely needed.
Overall this is an enjoyable read with a standard fantasy world and a sweet romance. It’s not my favourite of Miller’s tales, but if you’re looking for an easy, F/F romance with fantasy elements, this definitely fits the bill.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I would have liked to have known more about what happened between her and her previous mage partner, since the potential reprimand weighs on Devi’s thoughts a fair bit throughout the book, and perhaps a bit more about the other mages she’s clashed with. Devi’s not the most likeable character, being very prickly, with a hefty chip on her shoulder regarding wealthy mages and her own personal reasons for becoming a combatant, so it might have been nice to know what really went on (even from her pov) to see whether she really was to blame in all cases.
Luckily, Noeme is her complete opposite. Not that we get to know her all that well, but she tends to smile and maintain a cheerful attitude even when Devi’s being her most anti-mage. She also proves herself to be competent, which is nice. However, it seems she too has frequently been partnered with less decent combatants, making it seem as if these two are the only professional people out there.
I liked the different classes of dragons that the pair discuss on their way to deal with the threat, but I have to admit it might have been nice to have had more dragons. Or at least more dragon time. Still, this is only a novella and the plot is definitely split between dragon threat and romance, so I suppose the romance trumped any more dragon action. The romance itself is sweet and fairly straightforward, showing a softer side to Devi – which is definitely needed.
Overall this is an enjoyable read with a standard fantasy world and a sweet romance. It’s not my favourite of Miller’s tales, but if you’re looking for an easy, F/F romance with fantasy elements, this definitely fits the bill.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
April 8, 2016
Review originally published on my blog: http://www.literaryfeline.com/2016/03...
Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller
Less Than Three Press, 2015
Fantasy (Romance, LGBTQIA); 94 pgs
Source: From the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
It is obvious what drew me to this particular story, just from that description alone. I enjoy novels about magic. Add in a dragon and two strong female leads, and it is obvious what made me pick this particular novella up to read. Devi is a Combatant assigned to fight dragons with the help of a mage. She does her job well but does not always play nice with others. Who would when the mages you are usually assigned to are cocky, out to make a name for themselves, or just plain dumb? Knowing she is facing a formal complaint from the last mage she worked with, Devi has reservations when assigned to work with yet another one for her latest assignment. Noeme proves to be both nice and competent. She is a little green, however, when it comes to going after dragons.
I enjoyed this particular novella for both its fantasy elements and its romantic ones. Devi can be gruff and puts on a tough exterior, while Noeme is more of a bookworm, kind and ready with a smile. They say opposites attract, and in this case the saying is true. Although it's clear the two women are attracted to each other from the start, it isn't an instant romance. Both are cautious and unsure of the other's feelings. I did not get a real sense in this book as to whether a same-sex relationship is taboo in Miller's fictional world. I like the idea that it isn't necessarily.
Even though the book is only 94 pages long, I felt the author did a great job with setting up the world Devi and Noeme live in, including their roles as combatant and mage and the societal hierarchy. The reader gets a good idea for what Devi and Noeme are up against and the people they help. The story itself is a good one, from the build up to the showdown with the dragon (although I could have used a little more dragon time), to the romance, and everything else that follows. I wouldn't mind reading more about Devi and Noeme or their world. I definitely hope to check out more of the author's work in the future.
Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller
Less Than Three Press, 2015
Fantasy (Romance, LGBTQIA); 94 pgs
Source: From the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
It is obvious what drew me to this particular story, just from that description alone. I enjoy novels about magic. Add in a dragon and two strong female leads, and it is obvious what made me pick this particular novella up to read. Devi is a Combatant assigned to fight dragons with the help of a mage. She does her job well but does not always play nice with others. Who would when the mages you are usually assigned to are cocky, out to make a name for themselves, or just plain dumb? Knowing she is facing a formal complaint from the last mage she worked with, Devi has reservations when assigned to work with yet another one for her latest assignment. Noeme proves to be both nice and competent. She is a little green, however, when it comes to going after dragons.
I enjoyed this particular novella for both its fantasy elements and its romantic ones. Devi can be gruff and puts on a tough exterior, while Noeme is more of a bookworm, kind and ready with a smile. They say opposites attract, and in this case the saying is true. Although it's clear the two women are attracted to each other from the start, it isn't an instant romance. Both are cautious and unsure of the other's feelings. I did not get a real sense in this book as to whether a same-sex relationship is taboo in Miller's fictional world. I like the idea that it isn't necessarily.
Even though the book is only 94 pages long, I felt the author did a great job with setting up the world Devi and Noeme live in, including their roles as combatant and mage and the societal hierarchy. The reader gets a good idea for what Devi and Noeme are up against and the people they help. The story itself is a good one, from the build up to the showdown with the dragon (although I could have used a little more dragon time), to the romance, and everything else that follows. I wouldn't mind reading more about Devi and Noeme or their world. I definitely hope to check out more of the author's work in the future.
June 5, 2019
This was a quick easy read. The characters were enjoyable and their encounter was action pack, but overall all it felt too short.
As I have read more short stories, I realize I typically do not like them, unless they are supplementary to a full length book. If this was a longer book that dived into the world more and the characters, I think I would have liked it more. This could have easily been a 4 star book if there was more.
I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a good quick fantasy read.
As I have read more short stories, I realize I typically do not like them, unless they are supplementary to a full length book. If this was a longer book that dived into the world more and the characters, I think I would have liked it more. This could have easily been a 4 star book if there was more.
I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a good quick fantasy read.
July 11, 2015
*review given in exchange for review copy from Netgalley*
As a Combatant, Devi is expecting to be paired up with a Mage to fight off dragons and other monsters that prey on villages. But her previous partners have been useless, so she doesn't have high hopes for her new one. But Noeme turns out to be something different: skilled, competent, and attractive.
I liked the slow-build and the fact that the relationship didn't just fall into place right away. Their jobs made it difficult to go into a relationship knowing that one of them could be reassigned elsewhere at any time, or die in the line of duty.
But I didn't find the characters wholly likable. Devi's attitude was understandable at first: she's tired of dealing with people who aren't up to her level. But it quickly became annoying, especially when both women turned out to have this opinion of the other type of fighter. Both women, especially Devi, acted like all the fighters on the other side were incompetent whiny idiots.
But Devi and Noeme worked well together, and were well-written characters, even if I personally didn't love them.
The ending was very satisfying. Everything the characters worked for finally paid off, and their story wraps up happily, with the promise of more adventure ahead of them.
As a Combatant, Devi is expecting to be paired up with a Mage to fight off dragons and other monsters that prey on villages. But her previous partners have been useless, so she doesn't have high hopes for her new one. But Noeme turns out to be something different: skilled, competent, and attractive.
I liked the slow-build and the fact that the relationship didn't just fall into place right away. Their jobs made it difficult to go into a relationship knowing that one of them could be reassigned elsewhere at any time, or die in the line of duty.
But I didn't find the characters wholly likable. Devi's attitude was understandable at first: she's tired of dealing with people who aren't up to her level. But it quickly became annoying, especially when both women turned out to have this opinion of the other type of fighter. Both women, especially Devi, acted like all the fighters on the other side were incompetent whiny idiots.
But Devi and Noeme worked well together, and were well-written characters, even if I personally didn't love them.
The ending was very satisfying. Everything the characters worked for finally paid off, and their story wraps up happily, with the promise of more adventure ahead of them.
September 30, 2015
Slaying Dragons is about a Combatant named Devi, whose job is to, well, slay dragons! To effectively do her job, she has to be partnered with a Mage. But she's really had bad luck with them and has pretty much given up on finding one that's different; that is until she meets the new one, a woman named Noeme. who unlike the others seems professional, skilled and also very friendly.
When a new assignment arrives, they begin their travel together, getting to know each other along the way and trying to prepare themselves for what they'll find once they reach their destination.
I think the writing was all right, but I felt the world and the characters were underdeveloped and, in the case of the characters, not very likable. I agree with the other reviewer who said they both acted like everyone else was incompetent and whiny, and well, that made them annoying. And I'd have loved to read more about the dragons and the magic!
But it was entertaining and the relationship between the protagonists didn't feel forced, it helped that the author took her time developing it (instead of just rushing it).
ARC provided by Less Than Three Press (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
When a new assignment arrives, they begin their travel together, getting to know each other along the way and trying to prepare themselves for what they'll find once they reach their destination.
I think the writing was all right, but I felt the world and the characters were underdeveloped and, in the case of the characters, not very likable. I agree with the other reviewer who said they both acted like everyone else was incompetent and whiny, and well, that made them annoying. And I'd have loved to read more about the dragons and the magic!
But it was entertaining and the relationship between the protagonists didn't feel forced, it helped that the author took her time developing it (instead of just rushing it).
ARC provided by Less Than Three Press (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2015
I was able to read this book courtesy of NetGalley.
I liked this book a lot; it reminded me of an old school Dungeons and Dragons adventure. I would really enjoy seeing more of the world in which the author placed the story. I probably won't, as this story appears to be Sasha L. Miller's only foray into F/F romance and it was originally published three years ago.
The world she has created isn't tame and requires a guild to keep the monster population in check. We get to meet two of the members of the guild, one combatant and one mage, both women. They are rarities within the guild, sick of dealing with male counterparts, and discover an attraction for each other while on assignment.
The main characters are solid, the adventure good, and the background is great.
Too bad it is just a short story.
I liked this book a lot; it reminded me of an old school Dungeons and Dragons adventure. I would really enjoy seeing more of the world in which the author placed the story. I probably won't, as this story appears to be Sasha L. Miller's only foray into F/F romance and it was originally published three years ago.
The world she has created isn't tame and requires a guild to keep the monster population in check. We get to meet two of the members of the guild, one combatant and one mage, both women. They are rarities within the guild, sick of dealing with male counterparts, and discover an attraction for each other while on assignment.
The main characters are solid, the adventure good, and the background is great.
Too bad it is just a short story.
December 17, 2015
I absolutely loved it. I wished it was longer...I wished I could delve more in the characters. There was such a contrast between the two major female characters that some more background would just have added more depth to it all.
The story was well structured. Reminded me of Harry Potter, that is magic as an everyday happening with an infrastructure to it. This time not a school but sort of a military force.
Liked the idea of combining mages and warriors, the ethereal with the brute forces. And obviously the romance, which was quite credible and sexy.
Honestly I couldn't get enough.
Can we have a sequel please of where the story finished? There can be many! Or a prequel?
The story was well structured. Reminded me of Harry Potter, that is magic as an everyday happening with an infrastructure to it. This time not a school but sort of a military force.
Liked the idea of combining mages and warriors, the ethereal with the brute forces. And obviously the romance, which was quite credible and sexy.
Honestly I couldn't get enough.
Can we have a sequel please of where the story finished? There can be many! Or a prequel?
November 5, 2015
This was alright but a little slow for me. The world Devi lived in could have been expanded on slightly. I did like the contrast between the two women though. If your looking for an easy, short read this would work. This was previewed as an ARC through netgalley.com for a review.
December 27, 2015
Short, cute lesbian romance with dragon-slayers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews