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Dragon's Gift: The Druid #1
Institute of Magic
Where winning means survival.
According to legend, I’m supposed to be some kind of all-powerful DragonGod—gifted with the magic of gods. Instead, I’m a dud. In fact, I'm currently failing out of the Undercover Protectorate’s magical institute.
It's the supernatural version of Scotland Yard, and I’ve got one chance left to earn my place here. To do so, I have to compete in a deadly race across the world. In order to win, I need to survive. And I’ll need the help of a sexy and powerful shifter mage named Lachlan Munroe.
When we figure out that the race is rigged, Lachlan and I must rely on each other to make it through. But will I be able to learn enough magic to save my life?
Institute of Magic is a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure starring a kick butt heroine, a powerful hero, and magic that will blow your socks off.
According to legend, I’m supposed to be some kind of all-powerful DragonGod—gifted with the magic of gods. Instead, I’m a dud. In fact, I'm currently failing out of the Undercover Protectorate’s magical institute.
It's the supernatural version of Scotland Yard, and I’ve got one chance left to earn my place here. To do so, I have to compete in a deadly race across the world. In order to win, I need to survive. And I’ll need the help of a sexy and powerful shifter mage named Lachlan Munroe.
When we figure out that the race is rigged, Lachlan and I must rely on each other to make it through. But will I be able to learn enough magic to save my life?
Institute of Magic is a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure starring a kick butt heroine, a powerful hero, and magic that will blow your socks off.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
2526 people are currently reading
3206 people want to read
About the author
Linsey Hall
108 books4,384 followersFollow me!
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Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
For giveaways, contests and book discussion join my Facebook group
here!
Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
May 1, 2018
This was yet another twisting , wild ride to leave the reader breathless. As usual it’s chock full of mythology and history to really make the world building feel grounded in reality but the addition of magic ensures that there’s never a dull moment. I’ve long been a fan of the two sisters we met ferrying travelers through the dangerous terrain behind Death Valley Junction so finally getting to really know what makes Ana tick was a treat.
I will be blunt and say initially I wasn’t sure as we meet Ana running for her life during a magical test only to have her quickly meet Mr tall , powerful and dangerous. Oh no I thought I’m getting deja vu as this feels terribly familiar but I should have put more trust in the author. Yes Lachlan did remind me of someone else at first but that quickly faded as he came across as actually rather sweet and had one or two surprises up his sleeves. Plus Ana finds herself alone which really meant she had to rise up and take a few numbers as she isn’t exactly a perfect heroine . Ana has flaws which made me like her even more but I strongly suspect others within this story are not quite as enamoured but I will wait to see what happens next. There was a moment when the author confused me as I’d obviously expected old friends (hint hint ) to help but as I persevered everything made sense and can I say Ms Hall you are very sneaky !
Ok I’m not giving spoilers but I do have to say that this author often employs structure in her stories that can feel as if she has a formula but I know many readers read her stories for exactly that reason. If you’ve enjoyed her previous books with quirky side kicks ( Scottish familiars anyone?) then be prepared to laugh out loud . A really good introduction to Ana and her burgeoning powers with tons of excitement thrown in along the way .
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I will be blunt and say initially I wasn’t sure as we meet Ana running for her life during a magical test only to have her quickly meet Mr tall , powerful and dangerous. Oh no I thought I’m getting deja vu as this feels terribly familiar but I should have put more trust in the author. Yes Lachlan did remind me of someone else at first but that quickly faded as he came across as actually rather sweet and had one or two surprises up his sleeves. Plus Ana finds herself alone which really meant she had to rise up and take a few numbers as she isn’t exactly a perfect heroine . Ana has flaws which made me like her even more but I strongly suspect others within this story are not quite as enamoured but I will wait to see what happens next. There was a moment when the author confused me as I’d obviously expected old friends (hint hint ) to help but as I persevered everything made sense and can I say Ms Hall you are very sneaky !
Ok I’m not giving spoilers but I do have to say that this author often employs structure in her stories that can feel as if she has a formula but I know many readers read her stories for exactly that reason. If you’ve enjoyed her previous books with quirky side kicks ( Scottish familiars anyone?) then be prepared to laugh out loud . A really good introduction to Ana and her burgeoning powers with tons of excitement thrown in along the way .
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Read
May 26, 201843% in and I'm going to take a break and come back another time. I found Institute of Magic, to have an imaginative and creative plot with a kick butt, magically stalled heroine. Lots of action but a slight shy on building my character connection.
April 27, 2019
Awesome series, I read a later set of series related to this one first so read out of order but enjoyed them so went on to read these. I recommend them for sure. Love the strong females , the three siblings are great.
May 20, 2018
Dragon's Gift
I would write this book a 2.75. There's not enough development with Ana and Lachlan to truly root for them. I think Bree is more charismatic than Anna and I think that's the problem I'm having reading this book. I may go on to the next book at the end of May or not, the author is a good one. Happy reading!
I would write this book a 2.75. There's not enough development with Ana and Lachlan to truly root for them. I think Bree is more charismatic than Anna and I think that's the problem I'm having reading this book. I may go on to the next book at the end of May or not, the author is a good one. Happy reading!
Want to read
April 10, 2020🎁 The complete Dragon's Gift Series (5 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (4/10/2020)! 🎁
August 25, 2019
Quick, easy read but kept my interest the whole time.
May 2, 2018
Institute of Magic, Dragons Gift: The Druid Book 1
Linsey Hall
Who would have thunk, Linsey could conjure up a more Consummate Female Warrior then the ones she’d already shown us…but she did!
Ana was really bummed. Bree had finally found her powers, her magic as a Valkyrie. Super Woman on steroids. And they HAD rescued Rowan. Bree was now a full member of the Protectorate. Ana was still a shield mage….in training.
But while she was on a training mission, Ana had found some frisky, furious, feline friends. Or rather they had attached themselves to her, the Cats of Catastrophe, had become her sidekicks. Cool, calculated and clever, these 3 felines were not pets….they kicked butt and took names…. all on their own!
Then HE came……spilling a powerful magic she had never seen. Lachlan Munroe, Arch Magus, had a job that needed to be done. One which needed specialized help and he needed help NOW! An ancientus spell had gone missing. One of the rarest spells, and most dangerous was in the wrong hands! Meow, Ana purred after Lachlan, or rather she wanted too. Dark, Dreamy and Dangerous, a hottie to boot. Plus he wanted HER to help, sheath those claws kitten, RAWOR!
As in any Linsey tale, things are not really what they seem, before they can even start they need to find a starting point. They need clues and they them FAST! There is plenty of action, adventure and places to see. If only the stop! Ana and Lachlan are well matched, and attraction is off the scale, so why the distance between them? To answer these and many others questions you have to get the book!
I was given an ARC but the Review is all mine and freely given.
Linsey Hall
Who would have thunk, Linsey could conjure up a more Consummate Female Warrior then the ones she’d already shown us…but she did!
Ana was really bummed. Bree had finally found her powers, her magic as a Valkyrie. Super Woman on steroids. And they HAD rescued Rowan. Bree was now a full member of the Protectorate. Ana was still a shield mage….in training.
But while she was on a training mission, Ana had found some frisky, furious, feline friends. Or rather they had attached themselves to her, the Cats of Catastrophe, had become her sidekicks. Cool, calculated and clever, these 3 felines were not pets….they kicked butt and took names…. all on their own!
Then HE came……spilling a powerful magic she had never seen. Lachlan Munroe, Arch Magus, had a job that needed to be done. One which needed specialized help and he needed help NOW! An ancientus spell had gone missing. One of the rarest spells, and most dangerous was in the wrong hands! Meow, Ana purred after Lachlan, or rather she wanted too. Dark, Dreamy and Dangerous, a hottie to boot. Plus he wanted HER to help, sheath those claws kitten, RAWOR!
As in any Linsey tale, things are not really what they seem, before they can even start they need to find a starting point. They need clues and they them FAST! There is plenty of action, adventure and places to see. If only the stop! Ana and Lachlan are well matched, and attraction is off the scale, so why the distance between them? To answer these and many others questions you have to get the book!
I was given an ARC but the Review is all mine and freely given.
May 3, 2018
Good read
This is a good read and will be another good series by Hall. However after all of the firesoul, and Dragon God books I would like to see her take a different direction with new characters.
This is a good read and will be another good series by Hall. However after all of the firesoul, and Dragon God books I would like to see her take a different direction with new characters.
August 23, 2021
more things i found that didn't add up in the dragongods series: they said that the protectorate's members were all powerful misfits of the supernatural society. however, so far, the only one who seemed powerful was only the blackwood sisters, caro, cade, ali, and haris. that was all. and sometimes, it sounded like they were the only residents there, others just appeared occasionally.
Recap:
Ana was on another test of capture the flag from the UP academy. she had to face crazy potion-bomb-thrower old lady, earthquake, demons and faring very badly when she got the help from cats. she decided to take shortcut from the cemetery but she had to face some phantoms and her shield couldn't fend her off when the cats helped her again. she managed to go to the finish line but she went last when the cats came and introduced themself as muffin, princess snowflake iii, and bojangles and together, they were the cats of catastrophe who decided to chose Ana (CLICHE).
they returned back to UP stronghold at 3am but there was a sudden meeting because this super powerful hot dude who turned out to be an arch magus with 12 gifts named Lachlan asked for help to find a missing magic that could revive the past. suddenly, Ana had this knowledge that it was in Paris and this dude got interested and told her to team up with him 🙄(CLICHEEEE). the next day, they went to paris, to Père Lacheise to meet a ghost who knew everything (she was a seer), got attacked by some kind of zombie (ana's magic faltered), found the seer, she confirmed of this new magic, and in exchange for a dance with firelights, she gave them a crystal to be put at the top of Eiffle (which was a beacon of magic) to find the bad guys.
they wait until dark then went to the Eiffle but it was guarded by hellhounds and Ana was so screwed if not for the cats. they climbed it, Ana almost fell, reached the top, got another clue to go to the sewer of Paris (CLICHEEEE), Lachlan used telekinesis power that seemed like it stopped time (this book was full of nonsense), and entered to the sewer from the middle of intersection. Ana's magic told her to go through wall and they immediately got attacked by fire (Ana's shiled faltered again) and water serpent, and they found the bad guys' lair. they got silver circle tattoo on the back of the neck and they were discussing a she-evil who wanted the spell but made them wait before delivering it because she wanted to find the sorcerer.
they ambushed them but they were overpowered and suddenly, their magic was dampened and the bad guys managed to escape. with his las strength, Lachlan managed to get made a portal and get them out to his country home. at least they had a clue because before the bad guys left, Ana threw her dagger and she could summoned it back from the ether, so they could track them based on the blood. the next day, they called Mordoca and Aerdeca (i don't even care if i wrote it wrong, their name is so hard) but they could only found glimpses, that he was somewhere in ancient place but the rest was concealed by powerful and dark charm. cliche. they returned back to the UP stronghold to tell about the change in the hunt but they found that everyone who hunted the spell got their magic repressed too.
Ana was summoned by Arach, who said she was the only one whose magic was not totally repressed, she could access it but she had to learn to control it (this was a replica of the previous series) or she wouldn't be able to help anyone. while everyone went on a meeting, Ana decided to visit the library to find some answers. but in order to enter the ghost library, she had to contribute something so she painted with the guide of her magic. when it was done, she painted a part in a library that had a trapdoor, that even Florian did not know about.
they found it but it was locked by magic, so ana decided to focus on other matters first, like finding answers. bree gave her another clue named Abbondanza and the library lead her to books that contained answer. but she found the answer using her new weird magic, the bad guys were in Pompeii, Abbodanza street. Ana found Lachlan and after she changed clothes and they ate, they went to Pompeii, found Fabio, Lachlan's friend from his time as gladiator (to get fast money), and Fabio told them that they should go to the baths (in Abbodanza street) where all business were usually conducted there, naked.
after wandering around, ana met 2 women who talked about drop-off spot on the port tomorrow night and how the sorcerer was ready, and when they mentioned Lachlan, that confirmed it. but of course, they saw her earring and chased her naked, but they stopped when the guards came and ana went out with only boots and t-shirt (the cats took it for her, but not the pants). they returned to Fabio's place, ana told lachlan about it and they kissed but as in the previous series, lachlan stopped her because they were business partner and it was inappropriate blablabla.
the next day, Jude got the name of the port, Civitavechia. they rode there using Fabio's lamborghini and met ana's sister, who brought along the buggy and some of the protectorate's member. they fought monsters and demons and finally found the mages who tried to make a portal, guarded by demons. they fought again and was losing when the bad guys managed to build the portal and came the sorcerer. the two women from the bath ran to him and they got away, but ana would not let them go so she leaped inside the portal too, right before it closed.
she appeared somewhere in the forest and tried to follow the bad guys when she was knocked by 2 demons and thrown to jail. a short while later (like always in Linsey Hall's books), the cats came and rescued her. she met a demon, killed it, took his cellphone, and tell her sisters her coordinate. when she was wandering around, suddenly she found Connor (this was the emergency the firesouls said). turned out, his last name was decker. Connor heard some things during his stay and he said the bad guys had a lair under the lake so they went there, fought giant spiders that was controlled by this mad scientist, destroyed the stone that connect the spider to him, then Connor messed up with his boiling cauldron while ana distracted him.
connor almost succeed to destroyed his experiment that the bad guy got distracted so ana could kill him. turned out, the cauldron feed the spell that dampen all of the protectorat's magic. around that time, ana's sister, lachlan, claire, and the firesouls came (strangely, no cade. he was in the battle before). they returned to the castle, fought endless demons, so ana, rowan, bree, and lachlan went inside to the garden, where connor said they planned to do something. the sorcerer who was clutching the spell and the 2 women from the bath was there, along with giant demons who were trying to open trapdoors. they fought again and when things were going south, the sorcerer tried to throw the spell to the blonde women but muffin knocked it aside and rowan managed to the black-haired woman. the sorcerer jumped into the trapdoor and burnt everything with primordial fire, leaving everything and they tried to escape too. ana got a hunched that the trap door would lead to the portal in the forest but when they got there, it was too late.
at least the spell was destroyed in the fire, along with the blond woman, and for a while things were fine. ana also got the money from lachlan and he even asked ana to help him to find the sorcerer in exchange for him to help her control her new magic because he said, he hadn't always been that powerful. he only had seeds of power but he trained it to its maximum capacity. however, he said they couldn't kiss again because it that was business. cliche
Ana was on another test of capture the flag from the UP academy. she had to face crazy potion-bomb-thrower old lady, earthquake, demons and faring very badly when she got the help from cats. she decided to take shortcut from the cemetery but she had to face some phantoms and her shield couldn't fend her off when the cats helped her again. she managed to go to the finish line but she went last when the cats came and introduced themself as muffin, princess snowflake iii, and bojangles and together, they were the cats of catastrophe who decided to chose Ana (CLICHE).
they returned back to UP stronghold at 3am but there was a sudden meeting because this super powerful hot dude who turned out to be an arch magus with 12 gifts named Lachlan asked for help to find a missing magic that could revive the past. suddenly, Ana had this knowledge that it was in Paris and this dude got interested and told her to team up with him 🙄(CLICHEEEE). the next day, they went to paris, to Père Lacheise to meet a ghost who knew everything (she was a seer), got attacked by some kind of zombie (ana's magic faltered), found the seer, she confirmed of this new magic, and in exchange for a dance with firelights, she gave them a crystal to be put at the top of Eiffle (which was a beacon of magic) to find the bad guys.
they wait until dark then went to the Eiffle but it was guarded by hellhounds and Ana was so screwed if not for the cats. they climbed it, Ana almost fell, reached the top, got another clue to go to the sewer of Paris (CLICHEEEE), Lachlan used telekinesis power that seemed like it stopped time (this book was full of nonsense), and entered to the sewer from the middle of intersection. Ana's magic told her to go through wall and they immediately got attacked by fire (Ana's shiled faltered again) and water serpent, and they found the bad guys' lair. they got silver circle tattoo on the back of the neck and they were discussing a she-evil who wanted the spell but made them wait before delivering it because she wanted to find the sorcerer.
they ambushed them but they were overpowered and suddenly, their magic was dampened and the bad guys managed to escape. with his las strength, Lachlan managed to get made a portal and get them out to his country home. at least they had a clue because before the bad guys left, Ana threw her dagger and she could summoned it back from the ether, so they could track them based on the blood. the next day, they called Mordoca and Aerdeca (i don't even care if i wrote it wrong, their name is so hard) but they could only found glimpses, that he was somewhere in ancient place but the rest was concealed by powerful and dark charm. cliche. they returned back to the UP stronghold to tell about the change in the hunt but they found that everyone who hunted the spell got their magic repressed too.
Ana was summoned by Arach, who said she was the only one whose magic was not totally repressed, she could access it but she had to learn to control it (this was a replica of the previous series) or she wouldn't be able to help anyone. while everyone went on a meeting, Ana decided to visit the library to find some answers. but in order to enter the ghost library, she had to contribute something so she painted with the guide of her magic. when it was done, she painted a part in a library that had a trapdoor, that even Florian did not know about.
they found it but it was locked by magic, so ana decided to focus on other matters first, like finding answers. bree gave her another clue named Abbondanza and the library lead her to books that contained answer. but she found the answer using her new weird magic, the bad guys were in Pompeii, Abbodanza street. Ana found Lachlan and after she changed clothes and they ate, they went to Pompeii, found Fabio, Lachlan's friend from his time as gladiator (to get fast money), and Fabio told them that they should go to the baths (in Abbodanza street) where all business were usually conducted there, naked.
after wandering around, ana met 2 women who talked about drop-off spot on the port tomorrow night and how the sorcerer was ready, and when they mentioned Lachlan, that confirmed it. but of course, they saw her earring and chased her naked, but they stopped when the guards came and ana went out with only boots and t-shirt (the cats took it for her, but not the pants). they returned to Fabio's place, ana told lachlan about it and they kissed but as in the previous series, lachlan stopped her because they were business partner and it was inappropriate blablabla.
the next day, Jude got the name of the port, Civitavechia. they rode there using Fabio's lamborghini and met ana's sister, who brought along the buggy and some of the protectorate's member. they fought monsters and demons and finally found the mages who tried to make a portal, guarded by demons. they fought again and was losing when the bad guys managed to build the portal and came the sorcerer. the two women from the bath ran to him and they got away, but ana would not let them go so she leaped inside the portal too, right before it closed.
she appeared somewhere in the forest and tried to follow the bad guys when she was knocked by 2 demons and thrown to jail. a short while later (like always in Linsey Hall's books), the cats came and rescued her. she met a demon, killed it, took his cellphone, and tell her sisters her coordinate. when she was wandering around, suddenly she found Connor (this was the emergency the firesouls said). turned out, his last name was decker. Connor heard some things during his stay and he said the bad guys had a lair under the lake so they went there, fought giant spiders that was controlled by this mad scientist, destroyed the stone that connect the spider to him, then Connor messed up with his boiling cauldron while ana distracted him.
connor almost succeed to destroyed his experiment that the bad guy got distracted so ana could kill him. turned out, the cauldron feed the spell that dampen all of the protectorat's magic. around that time, ana's sister, lachlan, claire, and the firesouls came (strangely, no cade. he was in the battle before). they returned to the castle, fought endless demons, so ana, rowan, bree, and lachlan went inside to the garden, where connor said they planned to do something. the sorcerer who was clutching the spell and the 2 women from the bath was there, along with giant demons who were trying to open trapdoors. they fought again and when things were going south, the sorcerer tried to throw the spell to the blonde women but muffin knocked it aside and rowan managed to the black-haired woman. the sorcerer jumped into the trapdoor and burnt everything with primordial fire, leaving everything and they tried to escape too. ana got a hunched that the trap door would lead to the portal in the forest but when they got there, it was too late.
at least the spell was destroyed in the fire, along with the blond woman, and for a while things were fine. ana also got the money from lachlan and he even asked ana to help him to find the sorcerer in exchange for him to help her control her new magic because he said, he hadn't always been that powerful. he only had seeds of power but he trained it to its maximum capacity. however, he said they couldn't kiss again because it that was business. cliche
Recap:
Ana was on another test of capture the flag from the UP academy. she had to face crazy potion-bomb-thrower old lady, earthquake, demons and faring very badly when she got the help from cats. she decided to take shortcut from the cemetery but she had to face some phantoms and her shield couldn't fend her off when the cats helped her again. she managed to go to the finish line but she went last when the cats came and introduced themself as muffin, princess snowflake iii, and bojangles and together, they were the cats of catastrophe who decided to chose Ana (CLICHE).
they returned back to UP stronghold at 3am but there was a sudden meeting because this super powerful hot dude who turned out to be an arch magus with 12 gifts named Lachlan asked for help to find a missing magic that could revive the past. suddenly, Ana had this knowledge that it was in Paris and this dude got interested and told her to team up with him 🙄(CLICHEEEE). the next day, they went to paris, to Père Lacheise to meet a ghost who knew everything (she was a seer), got attacked by some kind of zombie (ana's magic faltered), found the seer, she confirmed of this new magic, and in exchange for a dance with firelights, she gave them a crystal to be put at the top of Eiffle (which was a beacon of magic) to find the bad guys.
they wait until dark then went to the Eiffle but it was guarded by hellhounds and Ana was so screwed if not for the cats. they climbed it, Ana almost fell, reached the top, got another clue to go to the sewer of Paris (CLICHEEEE), Lachlan used telekinesis power that seemed like it stopped time (this book was full of nonsense), and entered to the sewer from the middle of intersection. Ana's magic told her to go through wall and they immediately got attacked by fire (Ana's shiled faltered again) and water serpent, and they found the bad guys' lair. they got silver circle tattoo on the back of the neck and they were discussing a she-evil who wanted the spell but made them wait before delivering it because she wanted to find the sorcerer.
they ambushed them but they were overpowered and suddenly, their magic was dampened and the bad guys managed to escape. with his las strength, Lachlan managed to get made a portal and get them out to his country home. at least they had a clue because before the bad guys left, Ana threw her dagger and she could summoned it back from the ether, so they could track them based on the blood. the next day, they called Mordoca and Aerdeca (i don't even care if i wrote it wrong, their name is so hard) but they could only found glimpses, that he was somewhere in ancient place but the rest was concealed by powerful and dark charm. cliche. they returned back to the UP stronghold to tell about the change in the hunt but they found that everyone who hunted the spell got their magic repressed too.
Ana was summoned by Arach, who said she was the only one whose magic was not totally repressed, she could access it but she had to learn to control it (this was a replica of the previous series) or she wouldn't be able to help anyone. while everyone went on a meeting, Ana decided to visit the library to find some answers. but in order to enter the ghost library, she had to contribute something so she painted with the guide of her magic. when it was done, she painted a part in a library that had a trapdoor, that even Florian did not know about.
they found it but it was locked by magic, so ana decided to focus on other matters first, like finding answers. bree gave her another clue named Abbondanza and the library lead her to books that contained answer. but she found the answer using her new weird magic, the bad guys were in Pompeii, Abbodanza street. Ana found Lachlan and after she changed clothes and they ate, they went to Pompeii, found Fabio, Lachlan's friend from his time as gladiator (to get fast money), and Fabio told them that they should go to the baths (in Abbodanza street) where all business were usually conducted there, naked.
after wandering around, ana met 2 women who talked about drop-off spot on the port tomorrow night and how the sorcerer was ready, and when they mentioned Lachlan, that confirmed it. but of course, they saw her earring and chased her naked, but they stopped when the guards came and ana went out with only boots and t-shirt (the cats took it for her, but not the pants). they returned to Fabio's place, ana told lachlan about it and they kissed but as in the previous series, lachlan stopped her because they were business partner and it was inappropriate blablabla.
the next day, Jude got the name of the port, Civitavechia. they rode there using Fabio's lamborghini and met ana's sister, who brought along the buggy and some of the protectorate's member. they fought monsters and demons and finally found the mages who tried to make a portal, guarded by demons. they fought again and was losing when the bad guys managed to build the portal and came the sorcerer. the two women from the bath ran to him and they got away, but ana would not let them go so she leaped inside the portal too, right before it closed.
she appeared somewhere in the forest and tried to follow the bad guys when she was knocked by 2 demons and thrown to jail. a short while later (like always in Linsey Hall's books), the cats came and rescued her. she met a demon, killed it, took his cellphone, and tell her sisters her coordinate. when she was wandering around, suddenly she found Connor (this was the emergency the firesouls said). turned out, his last name was decker. Connor heard some things during his stay and he said the bad guys had a lair under the lake so they went there, fought giant spiders that was controlled by this mad scientist, destroyed the stone that connect the spider to him, then Connor messed up with his boiling cauldron while ana distracted him.
connor almost succeed to destroyed his experiment that the bad guy got distracted so ana could kill him. turned out, the cauldron feed the spell that dampen all of the protectorat's magic. around that time, ana's sister, lachlan, claire, and the firesouls came (strangely, no cade. he was in the battle before). they returned to the castle, fought endless demons, so ana, rowan, bree, and lachlan went inside to the garden, where connor said they planned to do something. the sorcerer who was clutching the spell and the 2 women from the bath was there, along with giant demons who were trying to open trapdoors. they fought again and when things were going south, the sorcerer tried to throw the spell to the blonde women but muffin knocked it aside and rowan managed to the black-haired woman. the sorcerer jumped into the trapdoor and burnt everything with primordial fire, leaving everything and they tried to escape too. ana got a hunched that the trap door would lead to the portal in the forest but when they got there, it was too late.
at least the spell was destroyed in the fire, along with the blond woman, and for a while things were fine. ana also got the money from lachlan and he even asked ana to help him to find the sorcerer in exchange for him to help her control her new magic because he said, he hadn't always been that powerful. he only had seeds of power but he trained it to its maximum capacity. however, he said they couldn't kiss again because it that was business. cliche
Ana was on another test of capture the flag from the UP academy. she had to face crazy potion-bomb-thrower old lady, earthquake, demons and faring very badly when she got the help from cats. she decided to take shortcut from the cemetery but she had to face some phantoms and her shield couldn't fend her off when the cats helped her again. she managed to go to the finish line but she went last when the cats came and introduced themself as muffin, princess snowflake iii, and bojangles and together, they were the cats of catastrophe who decided to chose Ana (CLICHE).
they returned back to UP stronghold at 3am but there was a sudden meeting because this super powerful hot dude who turned out to be an arch magus with 12 gifts named Lachlan asked for help to find a missing magic that could revive the past. suddenly, Ana had this knowledge that it was in Paris and this dude got interested and told her to team up with him 🙄(CLICHEEEE). the next day, they went to paris, to Père Lacheise to meet a ghost who knew everything (she was a seer), got attacked by some kind of zombie (ana's magic faltered), found the seer, she confirmed of this new magic, and in exchange for a dance with firelights, she gave them a crystal to be put at the top of Eiffle (which was a beacon of magic) to find the bad guys.
they wait until dark then went to the Eiffle but it was guarded by hellhounds and Ana was so screwed if not for the cats. they climbed it, Ana almost fell, reached the top, got another clue to go to the sewer of Paris (CLICHEEEE), Lachlan used telekinesis power that seemed like it stopped time (this book was full of nonsense), and entered to the sewer from the middle of intersection. Ana's magic told her to go through wall and they immediately got attacked by fire (Ana's shiled faltered again) and water serpent, and they found the bad guys' lair. they got silver circle tattoo on the back of the neck and they were discussing a she-evil who wanted the spell but made them wait before delivering it because she wanted to find the sorcerer.
they ambushed them but they were overpowered and suddenly, their magic was dampened and the bad guys managed to escape. with his las strength, Lachlan managed to get made a portal and get them out to his country home. at least they had a clue because before the bad guys left, Ana threw her dagger and she could summoned it back from the ether, so they could track them based on the blood. the next day, they called Mordoca and Aerdeca (i don't even care if i wrote it wrong, their name is so hard) but they could only found glimpses, that he was somewhere in ancient place but the rest was concealed by powerful and dark charm. cliche. they returned back to the UP stronghold to tell about the change in the hunt but they found that everyone who hunted the spell got their magic repressed too.
Ana was summoned by Arach, who said she was the only one whose magic was not totally repressed, she could access it but she had to learn to control it (this was a replica of the previous series) or she wouldn't be able to help anyone. while everyone went on a meeting, Ana decided to visit the library to find some answers. but in order to enter the ghost library, she had to contribute something so she painted with the guide of her magic. when it was done, she painted a part in a library that had a trapdoor, that even Florian did not know about.
they found it but it was locked by magic, so ana decided to focus on other matters first, like finding answers. bree gave her another clue named Abbondanza and the library lead her to books that contained answer. but she found the answer using her new weird magic, the bad guys were in Pompeii, Abbodanza street. Ana found Lachlan and after she changed clothes and they ate, they went to Pompeii, found Fabio, Lachlan's friend from his time as gladiator (to get fast money), and Fabio told them that they should go to the baths (in Abbodanza street) where all business were usually conducted there, naked.
after wandering around, ana met 2 women who talked about drop-off spot on the port tomorrow night and how the sorcerer was ready, and when they mentioned Lachlan, that confirmed it. but of course, they saw her earring and chased her naked, but they stopped when the guards came and ana went out with only boots and t-shirt (the cats took it for her, but not the pants). they returned to Fabio's place, ana told lachlan about it and they kissed but as in the previous series, lachlan stopped her because they were business partner and it was inappropriate blablabla.
the next day, Jude got the name of the port, Civitavechia. they rode there using Fabio's lamborghini and met ana's sister, who brought along the buggy and some of the protectorate's member. they fought monsters and demons and finally found the mages who tried to make a portal, guarded by demons. they fought again and was losing when the bad guys managed to build the portal and came the sorcerer. the two women from the bath ran to him and they got away, but ana would not let them go so she leaped inside the portal too, right before it closed.
she appeared somewhere in the forest and tried to follow the bad guys when she was knocked by 2 demons and thrown to jail. a short while later (like always in Linsey Hall's books), the cats came and rescued her. she met a demon, killed it, took his cellphone, and tell her sisters her coordinate. when she was wandering around, suddenly she found Connor (this was the emergency the firesouls said). turned out, his last name was decker. Connor heard some things during his stay and he said the bad guys had a lair under the lake so they went there, fought giant spiders that was controlled by this mad scientist, destroyed the stone that connect the spider to him, then Connor messed up with his boiling cauldron while ana distracted him.
connor almost succeed to destroyed his experiment that the bad guy got distracted so ana could kill him. turned out, the cauldron feed the spell that dampen all of the protectorat's magic. around that time, ana's sister, lachlan, claire, and the firesouls came (strangely, no cade. he was in the battle before). they returned to the castle, fought endless demons, so ana, rowan, bree, and lachlan went inside to the garden, where connor said they planned to do something. the sorcerer who was clutching the spell and the 2 women from the bath was there, along with giant demons who were trying to open trapdoors. they fought again and when things were going south, the sorcerer tried to throw the spell to the blonde women but muffin knocked it aside and rowan managed to the black-haired woman. the sorcerer jumped into the trapdoor and burnt everything with primordial fire, leaving everything and they tried to escape too. ana got a hunched that the trap door would lead to the portal in the forest but when they got there, it was too late.
at least the spell was destroyed in the fire, along with the blond woman, and for a while things were fine. ana also got the money from lachlan and he even asked ana to help him to find the sorcerer in exchange for him to help her control her new magic because he said, he hadn't always been that powerful. he only had seeds of power but he trained it to its maximum capacity. however, he said they couldn't kiss again because it that was business. cliche
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2018
This is another one of those books that is great if you want a quick entertaining read for a book challenge. I have read a couple of books set in this same world and while it does incorporate some characters and information from other series, you don't have to have to have read them to be able to follow this story. This book mixes a good storyline and action well, the speed and flow worked well pulling th reader along to the conclusion and enough questions were answered to both give a feeling of satisfaction but also whet the appetite for more and make you want to read on in the series. I am looking forward to reading book 2.
March 14, 2019
AnabananaBreefofana Who's Rowan??
Okay, so I'm assuming eventually poor Rowan is going to have her day but damn, does she feel like an abandoned puppy to me right about now after all of the Valkyrie books, now this launch into Ana's perspective. And oh.my.god. Again, after an entire series so far, now into a 2nd, why the hell couldn't someone ELSE, during the editing stage, have noticed the gross over use of phrases like "heart thundering" amongst a couple of others? And why can't Ana's love life have at least a SLIGHTLY less carbon-copied Cade figure as her interest? I mean, please try a LITTLE harder, k?
Despite all that, I'm still hanging in to find out how it all shakes out and to see when Ana and Lachlan OBVIOUSLY end up together eventually. I'm still holding out hope for some curve balls and more interesting history and myth woven into the following novels.
Okay, so I'm assuming eventually poor Rowan is going to have her day but damn, does she feel like an abandoned puppy to me right about now after all of the Valkyrie books, now this launch into Ana's perspective. And oh.my.god. Again, after an entire series so far, now into a 2nd, why the hell couldn't someone ELSE, during the editing stage, have noticed the gross over use of phrases like "heart thundering" amongst a couple of others? And why can't Ana's love life have at least a SLIGHTLY less carbon-copied Cade figure as her interest? I mean, please try a LITTLE harder, k?
Despite all that, I'm still hanging in to find out how it all shakes out and to see when Ana and Lachlan OBVIOUSLY end up together eventually. I'm still holding out hope for some curve balls and more interesting history and myth woven into the following novels.
January 14, 2019
4.5 stars I had a blast reading it, but I'm hesitant to say it was amazing. It was fun, but amazing? I dunno. My main complaint is that the suspension of disbelief was pretty extreme at some points considering it's a urban fantasy book. There were a few things that, even with magic involved, were just so improbable that using them as plot points seemed illogical.
But fuck it - even if I was like "oh come on!" at a few points, I had such a good time reading this that I'm going to download the next one and read it tonight. It wasn't full of character development or meaningful connections between characters - it was full of balls-to-the-walls-blowing-up-in-your-face magic. Tons of fuckin' magic. And that, to me, is a good time.
The slow burn romance is my favorite, so I'm excited to see where that goes. The hero, Lachlan, is like... the most powerful mage in the world or something? I love OP characters, so I'm definitely here for this. And the non-spoilery "personal issue" that the heroine, Ana, has isn't solved in this book, but I think it's pretty interesting. The whole "coming into power" thing isn't new, but I haven't seen this take on it before. It's totally new to me, this Dragon God thing, and I'm pumped to see it develop.
So I don't really have any major complaints... I thought it was a super fun ride of magic and action with a hint of a possible future romance. It's not too deep, the worldbuilding was a little lax but there were more interesting things to focus on, and there are a million different ways it could go from here. Consider me all sorts of piqued and yes, I recommend it.
But fuck it - even if I was like "oh come on!" at a few points, I had such a good time reading this that I'm going to download the next one and read it tonight. It wasn't full of character development or meaningful connections between characters - it was full of balls-to-the-walls-blowing-up-in-your-face magic. Tons of fuckin' magic. And that, to me, is a good time.
The slow burn romance is my favorite, so I'm excited to see where that goes. The hero, Lachlan, is like... the most powerful mage in the world or something? I love OP characters, so I'm definitely here for this. And the non-spoilery "personal issue" that the heroine, Ana, has isn't solved in this book, but I think it's pretty interesting. The whole "coming into power" thing isn't new, but I haven't seen this take on it before. It's totally new to me, this Dragon God thing, and I'm pumped to see it develop.
So I don't really have any major complaints... I thought it was a super fun ride of magic and action with a hint of a possible future romance. It's not too deep, the worldbuilding was a little lax but there were more interesting things to focus on, and there are a million different ways it could go from here. Consider me all sorts of piqued and yes, I recommend it.
August 21, 2019
2.5 Stars
I don’t know? Maybe because I’ve now read so many of the books consecutively in Linsey Hall’s Dragon’s Gift series that the holes in her plot lines are beginning to get to me? But as much as I enjoyed this story I also had so many issues with it. Let’s get to it.
The story premise is that Ana Blackwood is struggling with her training at the Institute of Magic to become a full fledged agent of the Protectorate like her sister Bree. We’re told a dozen times if we’re told once how much she loves living at the Protectorate and Institute castle with her sisters Bree and Rowan and her new friends. How she wants to be part of the work of the Protectorate working to protect less fortunate magical beings. Each time we’re told how much she fears failing out of the Institute and being forced away from her sisters to try and live on her own. There’s just so much basically wrong with this plot.
First, Ana is a Dragongod waiting to come into her powers that will make her( like her sister Bree, whom already has) one of the most powerful magical beings in the world. And the leaders of the Protectorate know this. So testing Ana with only her current power of being able to create a shield of protection when she’s going to be so much more powerful in the future and then implying (even nicely) that if she doesn’t pick up the pace in her training she’s going to fail out because rules are rules, makes no sense. Secondly, as close knit as Anna and her two sisters Bree and Rowan are, there’s no way they’d abandon her if she failed to make the grade at the Academy. Then we’re told by Jude, one of the Institute leaders that she recognizes Ana does much better in real life situations than she does trying to perform the Institute’s tests. Which also makes little sense because the tests Ana struggles to complete are real life simulations not book learning tests.
Then there’s this whole training concept. As in Bree’s series the requirements seem absurd. I mean they made Bree basically lead the charge to take down the Rebel Gods, the most powerful threat to magical and human beings in the universe before they allowed her to graduate to full agent. Along the way she showed more ability to get the job done than any other individual at the Protectorate but no matter how many challenges she overcame it was, “Not yet Bree. You’re doing well but you’ve still got a ways to go to graduate.” Now they’re doing the same thing with Ana. Apparently all the assistance Ana gave Bree during her challenges doesn’t count? Anrach tells her, “Ana you’re the only one left with any magical power. It’s up to you to save us, get our magic back and get the evil spell back from the super powerful sorcerer? And when she does it’s, “You did well Ana but you must still continue your training and accomplish more before we allow you to graduate.” Seriously? Makes you wonder what Caro, Ali and Harris had to do to complete their training? And if the three of them are so good why aren’t they leading the charge against these evil forces instead of acting like Bree and now Ana’s sidekicks?
If you can put all this aside, this is still a fun book as Ana and her partner Lachlan (the most powerful mage in the world) travel France and Italy to end the curse that has dampened their magical powers, get the powerful spell back that was stolen from Lochlan and recover his friend who was captured and taken prisoner when the spell was stolen. Why he was taken prisoner and held, we’re never told. Also, don’t ask how they think they can take on this super powerful evil sorcerer, his powerful minions and dozens of demons without their own magical powers? They’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. The idea that some powerful sorcerer can create a spell that deadens the magic of even the most powerful magical beings like Bree, Cade and Lachlan without even coming in contact with them sort of made the plot that much less believable for me.
Just like in Bree’s story with Cade, Ana feels an overwhelming physical attraction to Lachlan and he to her. And just like in Bree and Cade’s story, they share a panty melting kiss but the male lead ends it and says it was a mistake they can’t repeat because they are working together. I mean its verbatim what Cade said to Bree after the first time they kissed. And just like with Bree, it leaves Ana feeling embarrassed, confused and rejected. In this series we’re constantly being told by the female leads during a physically exhausting challenge how her lungs burn and her muscles tremble with exhaustion while the male lead hardly breaks a sweat. There are just too many instances in this series where it feels like the names of the main characters change but the dialogue is on a loop. In this book instead of the cute Ghost Dogs of Destruction, we get the Cats of Catastrophe, three magical cats who show up in time to help Ana out of sticky situations. The cats with their different personalities and behaviors are pretty entertaining if not nearly as cute as the ghost dogs. And the gang from Magic Bend makes an appearance to help Ana save the day.
So when this story is over, Ana (with plenty of help) has saved the day, and for now her spot as a trainee at The Academy, but she still has no clue as to what pantheon of gods have given her their powers, what most of those powers are or how to control them. And she’s agreed to continue to work with Lachlan even though she can barely contain her desire to jump his bones and he has clearly rejected her. Maybe I just need to take a break from this series before I continue on with the rest of Ana’s story and move on to Rowans? And what about poor Rowan the other triplet? If Ana is struggling to stay at the Academy with only her defensive shield power, how is Rowan going to remain a trainee when her original magical powers are gone and she hasn’t yet come into her dragongod powers? And lastly, why is Anna’s Druid series the only one in the Dragon’s Gift series I can’t download for free as a complete set like the other series? You can download them individually for free, but not as the complete five book set. If you want the entire set it's $23.00. What sense does that make?
I don’t know? Maybe because I’ve now read so many of the books consecutively in Linsey Hall’s Dragon’s Gift series that the holes in her plot lines are beginning to get to me? But as much as I enjoyed this story I also had so many issues with it. Let’s get to it.
The story premise is that Ana Blackwood is struggling with her training at the Institute of Magic to become a full fledged agent of the Protectorate like her sister Bree. We’re told a dozen times if we’re told once how much she loves living at the Protectorate and Institute castle with her sisters Bree and Rowan and her new friends. How she wants to be part of the work of the Protectorate working to protect less fortunate magical beings. Each time we’re told how much she fears failing out of the Institute and being forced away from her sisters to try and live on her own. There’s just so much basically wrong with this plot.
First, Ana is a Dragongod waiting to come into her powers that will make her( like her sister Bree, whom already has) one of the most powerful magical beings in the world. And the leaders of the Protectorate know this. So testing Ana with only her current power of being able to create a shield of protection when she’s going to be so much more powerful in the future and then implying (even nicely) that if she doesn’t pick up the pace in her training she’s going to fail out because rules are rules, makes no sense. Secondly, as close knit as Anna and her two sisters Bree and Rowan are, there’s no way they’d abandon her if she failed to make the grade at the Academy. Then we’re told by Jude, one of the Institute leaders that she recognizes Ana does much better in real life situations than she does trying to perform the Institute’s tests. Which also makes little sense because the tests Ana struggles to complete are real life simulations not book learning tests.
Then there’s this whole training concept. As in Bree’s series the requirements seem absurd. I mean they made Bree basically lead the charge to take down the Rebel Gods, the most powerful threat to magical and human beings in the universe before they allowed her to graduate to full agent. Along the way she showed more ability to get the job done than any other individual at the Protectorate but no matter how many challenges she overcame it was, “Not yet Bree. You’re doing well but you’ve still got a ways to go to graduate.” Now they’re doing the same thing with Ana. Apparently all the assistance Ana gave Bree during her challenges doesn’t count? Anrach tells her, “Ana you’re the only one left with any magical power. It’s up to you to save us, get our magic back and get the evil spell back from the super powerful sorcerer? And when she does it’s, “You did well Ana but you must still continue your training and accomplish more before we allow you to graduate.” Seriously? Makes you wonder what Caro, Ali and Harris had to do to complete their training? And if the three of them are so good why aren’t they leading the charge against these evil forces instead of acting like Bree and now Ana’s sidekicks?
If you can put all this aside, this is still a fun book as Ana and her partner Lachlan (the most powerful mage in the world) travel France and Italy to end the curse that has dampened their magical powers, get the powerful spell back that was stolen from Lochlan and recover his friend who was captured and taken prisoner when the spell was stolen. Why he was taken prisoner and held, we’re never told. Also, don’t ask how they think they can take on this super powerful evil sorcerer, his powerful minions and dozens of demons without their own magical powers? They’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. The idea that some powerful sorcerer can create a spell that deadens the magic of even the most powerful magical beings like Bree, Cade and Lachlan without even coming in contact with them sort of made the plot that much less believable for me.
Just like in Bree’s story with Cade, Ana feels an overwhelming physical attraction to Lachlan and he to her. And just like in Bree and Cade’s story, they share a panty melting kiss but the male lead ends it and says it was a mistake they can’t repeat because they are working together. I mean its verbatim what Cade said to Bree after the first time they kissed. And just like with Bree, it leaves Ana feeling embarrassed, confused and rejected. In this series we’re constantly being told by the female leads during a physically exhausting challenge how her lungs burn and her muscles tremble with exhaustion while the male lead hardly breaks a sweat. There are just too many instances in this series where it feels like the names of the main characters change but the dialogue is on a loop. In this book instead of the cute Ghost Dogs of Destruction, we get the Cats of Catastrophe, three magical cats who show up in time to help Ana out of sticky situations. The cats with their different personalities and behaviors are pretty entertaining if not nearly as cute as the ghost dogs. And the gang from Magic Bend makes an appearance to help Ana save the day.
So when this story is over, Ana (with plenty of help) has saved the day, and for now her spot as a trainee at The Academy, but she still has no clue as to what pantheon of gods have given her their powers, what most of those powers are or how to control them. And she’s agreed to continue to work with Lachlan even though she can barely contain her desire to jump his bones and he has clearly rejected her. Maybe I just need to take a break from this series before I continue on with the rest of Ana’s story and move on to Rowans? And what about poor Rowan the other triplet? If Ana is struggling to stay at the Academy with only her defensive shield power, how is Rowan going to remain a trainee when her original magical powers are gone and she hasn’t yet come into her dragongod powers? And lastly, why is Anna’s Druid series the only one in the Dragon’s Gift series I can’t download for free as a complete set like the other series? You can download them individually for free, but not as the complete five book set. If you want the entire set it's $23.00. What sense does that make?
April 5, 2021
Content: this series is VERY light on romance. I wouldn’t even put it in that category. Yes there is a romance between Ana and Lachlan but it it by no means a main plot in the story. There are only a couple of kissing scenes in the whole series and any thing more then that happens behind closed doors so to speak and is barely even implied.
I honestly read this series in like 2 days as I was laid up in bed to sick to do anything. This is the first series I’ve read by this author so I missed the first series in this collection. That being said I don’t think it affected my enjoyment in the book. I did miss out on understanding some of the characters better but it didn’t affect the story line.
I enjoyed this series. It was recommended as a paranormal romance which I don’t think it is but it was still be really good. The works the author created was incredible. I loved that she weaves the Celtic myths and gods from our history so seamlessly into this new world. I enjoyed Ana. She was strong, brave and loyal. Same with Lachlan. They were able to get through this battle together because they leaned and trusted each other so much. The ending of the book lacked a little for me. When all was said and done it was just that. Done. A get together at the local pub and a slap on the back. I guess I was just hoping for a little more then that with Ana and Lachlan. With them going through so much together I guess apart of me just wanted a little more. Regardless it didn’t change my rating of the books.
I didn’t stop and review every book in the series. I just read straight through so I’m not going to break down my review for each book. The gist of it is there is a great evil in this world that is trying to destroy it. Ana and Lachlan, along with her sisters and friends must stop that. Trial after trial, puzzle after puzzle Ana and Lachlan face it together. I really enjoyed when Bree and Rowan (the sisters) joined in the search by Ana’s side because there was a great dynamic between the 3. Ana coming into her magic was a good ride as well. Her magic could be a little confusing at times and other times I wondered why she didn’t use a different skill or search more about her power. But it was a faced paced story and I don’t think it would have fit into it as well. This author wove a world that I was sucked into and really enjoyed. I will definitely be reading more of her books.
I honestly read this series in like 2 days as I was laid up in bed to sick to do anything. This is the first series I’ve read by this author so I missed the first series in this collection. That being said I don’t think it affected my enjoyment in the book. I did miss out on understanding some of the characters better but it didn’t affect the story line.
I enjoyed this series. It was recommended as a paranormal romance which I don’t think it is but it was still be really good. The works the author created was incredible. I loved that she weaves the Celtic myths and gods from our history so seamlessly into this new world. I enjoyed Ana. She was strong, brave and loyal. Same with Lachlan. They were able to get through this battle together because they leaned and trusted each other so much. The ending of the book lacked a little for me. When all was said and done it was just that. Done. A get together at the local pub and a slap on the back. I guess I was just hoping for a little more then that with Ana and Lachlan. With them going through so much together I guess apart of me just wanted a little more. Regardless it didn’t change my rating of the books.
I didn’t stop and review every book in the series. I just read straight through so I’m not going to break down my review for each book. The gist of it is there is a great evil in this world that is trying to destroy it. Ana and Lachlan, along with her sisters and friends must stop that. Trial after trial, puzzle after puzzle Ana and Lachlan face it together. I really enjoyed when Bree and Rowan (the sisters) joined in the search by Ana’s side because there was a great dynamic between the 3. Ana coming into her magic was a good ride as well. Her magic could be a little confusing at times and other times I wondered why she didn’t use a different skill or search more about her power. But it was a faced paced story and I don’t think it would have fit into it as well. This author wove a world that I was sucked into and really enjoyed. I will definitely be reading more of her books.
December 1, 2018
As usual, one of the first things that happens is Ana meets her love interest. This is where I bemoan the formulaic nature of these books: the moment we find Ana walking to a room while noting that she can feel someone super-powerful inside, we know immediately this will be her love interest. Because after all, the love interest in each sub-series is smokin’ hot, physically and magically super-powerful, and wealthy, and shows up pretty much at the start. (Why couldn’t someone be slim and wiry for once? Or bookish? Or female instead of male? Or sweet but poor?) We also seem to be revisiting the “we can’t smooch because we’re working together” argument, which is just kinda meh, especially when done twice in a row (you might recall that Bree and Cade briefly went through this stage as well).
One of the major early complications that hits is that everyone on the hunt for the spell has their magic dampened. Given that affecting others with magic from a distance without using some object of theirs is… not something we’ve really seen before? I think? And sounds kind of unlikely within the established parameters of the world, it’s hard to imagine how this is possible. Hopefully we’ll learn more within the five-book sub-series that will cause this to make sense. After all, we usually don’t learn about the over-arching power the main character faces until later.
As usual, the highlight is the combination of snark and action. Hall is still excellent at climactic fight scenes with a ton of danger, high-powered hijinks, and an array of adversaries and allies. We even get to see the Triumvirate in action again. I’m looking forward to finding out what pantheon has supplied Ana with her powers and how they manifest. Not to mention, how they’re used to create even more excellent fight scenes!
Consider my rating a 3.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/12/r...
One of the major early complications that hits is that everyone on the hunt for the spell has their magic dampened. Given that affecting others with magic from a distance without using some object of theirs is… not something we’ve really seen before? I think? And sounds kind of unlikely within the established parameters of the world, it’s hard to imagine how this is possible. Hopefully we’ll learn more within the five-book sub-series that will cause this to make sense. After all, we usually don’t learn about the over-arching power the main character faces until later.
As usual, the highlight is the combination of snark and action. Hall is still excellent at climactic fight scenes with a ton of danger, high-powered hijinks, and an array of adversaries and allies. We even get to see the Triumvirate in action again. I’m looking forward to finding out what pantheon has supplied Ana with her powers and how they manifest. Not to mention, how they’re used to create even more excellent fight scenes!
Consider my rating a 3.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/12/r...
May 4, 2018
I just love these books by Linsey Hall. I've yet to find even one I didn't just love by the time I'd finished it. This one is no exception. If I had one complaint it would be having to wait for the next book. With all of these Dragon books, she's written 5 books for each story and this was just the first of this series. On the other hand she doesn't make her readers wait too long. The next one is due next month. Sweet! I don't know how she does it, but she does a remarkable job of creating characters one can't help but care about. With her words she creates scenes and builds worlds that bring the story to life. There are some things that are a bit formulaic but she still manages to change enough to create an original story each time.
This series focuses on Ana, who is Bree's sister. She's trying to make it into the Protectorate and she isn't doing well with the tests. Her magic is acting up, changing and we're led to believe she's finally coming into her Dragon God powers. Which pantheon? Based on the title I'm guessing the Celtic Druids which is an interesting choice since there isn't that much literature available compared to the Norse, Roman or Greek pantheons. I love that her romantic interest is probably of Scottish origins with a name like Lachlan. With the Protectorate living in the Scottish Highlands why not? Adding the Cats of Catastrophe is an interesting element. Not really warm and fuzzy, but very effective fighters. Bree has the pugs, Ana the cats, so I wonder what Rowan will end up having in the next series?
This series focuses on Ana, who is Bree's sister. She's trying to make it into the Protectorate and she isn't doing well with the tests. Her magic is acting up, changing and we're led to believe she's finally coming into her Dragon God powers. Which pantheon? Based on the title I'm guessing the Celtic Druids which is an interesting choice since there isn't that much literature available compared to the Norse, Roman or Greek pantheons. I love that her romantic interest is probably of Scottish origins with a name like Lachlan. With the Protectorate living in the Scottish Highlands why not? Adding the Cats of Catastrophe is an interesting element. Not really warm and fuzzy, but very effective fighters. Bree has the pugs, Ana the cats, so I wonder what Rowan will end up having in the next series?
January 9, 2019
I'm giving this one 3 stars because it took me a REALLY long time to get into and to finish. I don't think the problem is entirely with this book, but rather to do with the fact that this is the 4th mini-series set in the same universe that I have read by this author. At this point, the books all feel too formulaic/similar to each other.
Each series focuses on one woman, who has a secret power of some kind, one which would get her killed if the wrong people knew, and is living more or less 'on the run.' Until a nearly all-powerful, Alpha male of some kind shows up and inserts themselves into her life. The Alpha Male is obviously into the woman, obvious to everyone except the main character. The main character is afraid of the Alpha, because if they find out her secret she might be killed. The Alpha knows something is different about the girl and wants to know what it is, but is super protective of her and uses his enormous wealth & power to help slowly bring her out of her shell while keeping her alive.
In the next book, I am certain he will reveal that he knows her secret or she will finally tell him, and then he will help her to learn to use her forbidden powers. Then the 3rd book will have her fully come into her powers and be on more of but not quite an equal footing with the Alpha Male. The book will then end by introducing the next woman who will need to have her powers awakened/nurtured by the next Alpha Male.
If I hadn't read the other series with essentially the same plot line, I would have enjoyed this one more.
Each series focuses on one woman, who has a secret power of some kind, one which would get her killed if the wrong people knew, and is living more or less 'on the run.' Until a nearly all-powerful, Alpha male of some kind shows up and inserts themselves into her life. The Alpha Male is obviously into the woman, obvious to everyone except the main character. The main character is afraid of the Alpha, because if they find out her secret she might be killed. The Alpha knows something is different about the girl and wants to know what it is, but is super protective of her and uses his enormous wealth & power to help slowly bring her out of her shell while keeping her alive.
In the next book, I am certain he will reveal that he knows her secret or she will finally tell him, and then he will help her to learn to use her forbidden powers. Then the 3rd book will have her fully come into her powers and be on more of but not quite an equal footing with the Alpha Male. The book will then end by introducing the next woman who will need to have her powers awakened/nurtured by the next Alpha Male.
If I hadn't read the other series with essentially the same plot line, I would have enjoyed this one more.
May 15, 2018
The Druid Book One, Dragon's Gift Universe Book Twenty-One.
Coming in last in a training mission wasn't the best indication of Ana's abilities, but she did gain the help of a trio of felines known as the Cats of Catastrophe. When a call for aid comes in, Ana ends up partners with Lachlan Munroe, one of the most notorious mages in the magical community. The two chase down several clues to find a stolen magic Lachlan never should have re-created. During this race, every mage begins to lose powers except Ana. Are her god powers appearing, or is she not affected for a different reason?
If you're looking for a fun story with swords and sorcery, this is the book for you. A quick note, though. I highly recommend beginning with the other miniseries within the Dragon's Gift Universe. While you can understand most everything going on, there isn't as much groundwork laid out for characters or world-building because the series is a continuation instead of a brand new series.
Audio Review:
Laurel Schroeder lays out the story in a light storytelling way. She is not overly dramatic, but does add accents and distinguishes between characters.
Coming in last in a training mission wasn't the best indication of Ana's abilities, but she did gain the help of a trio of felines known as the Cats of Catastrophe. When a call for aid comes in, Ana ends up partners with Lachlan Munroe, one of the most notorious mages in the magical community. The two chase down several clues to find a stolen magic Lachlan never should have re-created. During this race, every mage begins to lose powers except Ana. Are her god powers appearing, or is she not affected for a different reason?
If you're looking for a fun story with swords and sorcery, this is the book for you. A quick note, though. I highly recommend beginning with the other miniseries within the Dragon's Gift Universe. While you can understand most everything going on, there isn't as much groundwork laid out for characters or world-building because the series is a continuation instead of a brand new series.
Audio Review:
Laurel Schroeder lays out the story in a light storytelling way. She is not overly dramatic, but does add accents and distinguishes between characters.
June 23, 2022
It's more like a 3.5 for me. Not a 3, but just not reaching the 4th either. Reason being, it was somewhat boring.
Sometimes a book reads like the whole story. You really get to know the person, their history, what they're about, their future. You get them and live through part of their story with them. Feeling like you made a friend, a good friend.
Other times, a book reads like a you met a stranger, had coffee with them for a few hours and went on your way. In a few weeks, you'll almost forget about it completely. Unfortunately, this book is like the last one. I don't feel like I know or understood the character or that I spent an intense time period with her in her life.
So I had coffee with this book. The whole story played out in about 3 days. A relatively boring few days. Still, the main characters were interesting, the worldbuilding okay, the reading easy. There was nothing wrong with the book, so definitely at least worth a 3. It was enjoyable and interesting and worth the few hours I spent, therefore better than just a 3. But it wasn't worth a wow 4.
I'll probably at some point read the 2nd book.
Sometimes a book reads like the whole story. You really get to know the person, their history, what they're about, their future. You get them and live through part of their story with them. Feeling like you made a friend, a good friend.
Other times, a book reads like a you met a stranger, had coffee with them for a few hours and went on your way. In a few weeks, you'll almost forget about it completely. Unfortunately, this book is like the last one. I don't feel like I know or understood the character or that I spent an intense time period with her in her life.
So I had coffee with this book. The whole story played out in about 3 days. A relatively boring few days. Still, the main characters were interesting, the worldbuilding okay, the reading easy. There was nothing wrong with the book, so definitely at least worth a 3. It was enjoyable and interesting and worth the few hours I spent, therefore better than just a 3. But it wasn't worth a wow 4.
I'll probably at some point read the 2nd book.
May 1, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Damn! I don't know how Linsey keeps coming up with these amazing characters and story lines, and interweaving them effortlessly with the rest of the story arcs... it's simply mind blowing. I really love Ana and her sisters, and the connection they have to each other, it is simply amazing and almost tangible. Ana is strong and fierce in spite of her issues with her magic, and I am in awe of her badassness (I don't care if it's not a word) and the things she can do with a weapon. Lachlan is an interesting man - on one hand he is controlled, powerful, and quite simply delicious, but on the other there is something a little suspicious about him - it certainly makes for an intriguing combination. One of my favourite aspects of Linsey's books is that these characters have flaws that make certain things a little difficult (fear of heights, anyone?) but it makes them so much more relatable as characters - it's certainly a trait I admire, no matter what genre I'm reading, or how unrealistic the content is.
Damn! I don't know how Linsey keeps coming up with these amazing characters and story lines, and interweaving them effortlessly with the rest of the story arcs... it's simply mind blowing. I really love Ana and her sisters, and the connection they have to each other, it is simply amazing and almost tangible. Ana is strong and fierce in spite of her issues with her magic, and I am in awe of her badassness (I don't care if it's not a word) and the things she can do with a weapon. Lachlan is an interesting man - on one hand he is controlled, powerful, and quite simply delicious, but on the other there is something a little suspicious about him - it certainly makes for an intriguing combination. One of my favourite aspects of Linsey's books is that these characters have flaws that make certain things a little difficult (fear of heights, anyone?) but it makes them so much more relatable as characters - it's certainly a trait I admire, no matter what genre I'm reading, or how unrealistic the content is.
June 3, 2018
I'm loving the Dragon's Gift series although at this point I've missed books 11-15 and I did feel like that was affecting me as I listened to this book. I felt there were gaps in what I understood of the backstory, so I highly recommend that you read this series in order, although you could do the sub-series individually without missing too much (but you'd create lots of spoilers for yourself).
I really liked Ana and Lachlan as individual characters but I thought that their connection was a bit lacking, I'm hoping this will be fixed in the following books.
The plot was lots of fun, there's enough twists and turns to be an amusement part ride and there's plenty of action. I really enjoyed it and I liked that there was so much happening all at once.
The narration was excellent, the character voices were clear and recognizable and the delivery was dynamic and flowed smoothly.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
I really liked Ana and Lachlan as individual characters but I thought that their connection was a bit lacking, I'm hoping this will be fixed in the following books.
The plot was lots of fun, there's enough twists and turns to be an amusement part ride and there's plenty of action. I really enjoyed it and I liked that there was so much happening all at once.
The narration was excellent, the character voices were clear and recognizable and the delivery was dynamic and flowed smoothly.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
August 15, 2018
Very interesting story. It’s obvious that there was a series before this maybe Bree’s? However I feel like this series could stand alone but there is a lot of backtracking as a kind of fill in the blanks. I like the heroine she’s snarky and clever. I really liked the scavenger hunt type clues they have to follow gives the book a mystery flare with some interesting history bits here and there. Some of the clues were a little obvious especially the 2nd one I guessed it right away.
The dragon god concept is a tad confusing but may have been explained more in a previous series. Ugh I hate missing information but it’s still interesting just the same. However, Ana’s powers aren’t really implicating any group. I thought maybe Egypt when the cats kept showing up but when it was revealed one to be of Scottish origins that blew that theory right out. It’s enough of a mystery to keep reading for sure.
So far very YA. Mild cursing very mild, and some very brief kissing but nothing that would deter YA readers at this point in the series.
The dragon god concept is a tad confusing but may have been explained more in a previous series. Ugh I hate missing information but it’s still interesting just the same. However, Ana’s powers aren’t really implicating any group. I thought maybe Egypt when the cats kept showing up but when it was revealed one to be of Scottish origins that blew that theory right out. It’s enough of a mystery to keep reading for sure.
So far very YA. Mild cursing very mild, and some very brief kissing but nothing that would deter YA readers at this point in the series.
March 25, 2023
Good
We begin Ana Blackwood’s series with an interesting twist, as Ana, not doing so well at the Institute, is tagged for a chance to win a big dollar prize: if she can find a stolen spell.
Cue her new dragon god powers starting to come online, add in one insanely powerful mage, and line up a few nasty baddies- and you’ll have troubles galore!
We first met Ana when she and her sister helped out the Firesouls in their quests, and we learned a little more about her from her sister Bree’s series. Now she gets her time to shine, and a handsome man to impress while she does it.
The stars of this book are definitely the cats, although we do have a Mayhem sighting, and a few cameos from other series in this universe competing for that role.
There’s plenty of action, a great deal of magic, and some fun magical travels (I did enjoy the trip to Italy).
It’s a fast, but fun read, set in a fantastical universe littered with fascinating people.
An enthralling start to this “Dragon’s Gift: the Druid” series.
Recommended for urban fantasy lovers.
We begin Ana Blackwood’s series with an interesting twist, as Ana, not doing so well at the Institute, is tagged for a chance to win a big dollar prize: if she can find a stolen spell.
Cue her new dragon god powers starting to come online, add in one insanely powerful mage, and line up a few nasty baddies- and you’ll have troubles galore!
We first met Ana when she and her sister helped out the Firesouls in their quests, and we learned a little more about her from her sister Bree’s series. Now she gets her time to shine, and a handsome man to impress while she does it.
The stars of this book are definitely the cats, although we do have a Mayhem sighting, and a few cameos from other series in this universe competing for that role.
There’s plenty of action, a great deal of magic, and some fun magical travels (I did enjoy the trip to Italy).
It’s a fast, but fun read, set in a fantastical universe littered with fascinating people.
An enthralling start to this “Dragon’s Gift: the Druid” series.
Recommended for urban fantasy lovers.
May 26, 2018
I love Linsey Hall’s novels so it’s no surprise that I was delighted to get my hands on Institute of Magic, book 1 of her new Dragon's Gift: The Druid series. This book is, quite simply, extremely imaginative and superbly written. It had just what I wanted and was well written and had a great plot. Set in the sand Dragon’s Gift universe as other series this time the focus is on Ana, who is Bree's sister. I frankly adore Bree, and no surprise have really loved watching Ana as well as she take on all comers. The rest of the cast of characters (hellooo Lachlan) is pretty amazing as well. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2.
September 3, 2018
Institute of Magic is the first book in Linsey Hall's fifth Dragon's Gift series. Ana's gift is a defensive shield. She needs to rely on weapons in order to fight. But since she is a Dragon God, her new powers are about to take over and her innate shield isn't what it used to be. While training, she encounters a mysterious trio of cats that have their own magic and turns out to be her sidekicks for this series. Enter Lachlan who has a job for the Undercover Protectorate. It's all hands on deck including trainees. Ana and Lachlan team up together to discover there is more to this mystery than what they first thought.
Overall, this was another great intro novel to another great series. Ana's gifts develop differently than Bree's gifts, so it is nice to read that her character development won't be a carbon copy of her sister. Lastly, it is highly recommended to read each of the Dragon's Gifts series in order.
Overall, this was another great intro novel to another great series. Ana's gifts develop differently than Bree's gifts, so it is nice to read that her character development won't be a carbon copy of her sister. Lastly, it is highly recommended to read each of the Dragon's Gifts series in order.
March 1, 2020
She's gotten by with her shield as her only magic and compensated when she needed to. It's worked for her up to now but is it enough. Now she has to show them what she's made of and it wont be easy. She's fighting desperately to show she deserves, no needs this to work. He has come asking for help and is instantly drawn to the woman who ask so many questions. Who and what she is, he doesn't know. What he does find out is she has spunk, determination and wonky magic. What ever the pull is this woman is powerful and enchanting and he is going to help her no matter the costs.
I love this author and her characters. As I catch up on the series I love even more the way she empowers her characters, building them up and letting them soar. It's always a wild ride full of friends and action and growth. Each book in the series dives more into the inner character and the evolution and it's awesome.
I love this author and her characters. As I catch up on the series I love even more the way she empowers her characters, building them up and letting them soar. It's always a wild ride full of friends and action and growth. Each book in the series dives more into the inner character and the evolution and it's awesome.
April 18, 2020
For me...the supporting characters in this book increase the appeal
Ghost Librarian, Cats of Catastrophe, and winged spirit pugs....these supporting characters lighten the story and provide a little variance in these 'oh so similar' series by this Author.
The personalities of the main characters don't vary much. The Heroes have a little more distinction, but the pets (whether they be feline, dragonets, or canine) are the highlights for me. Ana seems to be a bit more interesting than the usual female MC. And her Mage love interest is also intriguing. Although I'll give this book 3-1/2 stars, it's in the hopes that this series won't be more of the 'same old, same old'. I basically enjoy them, but I'm waiting for a spark of new inspiration from this Author--otherwise, my ratings will go back to the usual 3 stars that I've given most of the numerous series books from Ms. Hall.
Ghost Librarian, Cats of Catastrophe, and winged spirit pugs....these supporting characters lighten the story and provide a little variance in these 'oh so similar' series by this Author.
The personalities of the main characters don't vary much. The Heroes have a little more distinction, but the pets (whether they be feline, dragonets, or canine) are the highlights for me. Ana seems to be a bit more interesting than the usual female MC. And her Mage love interest is also intriguing. Although I'll give this book 3-1/2 stars, it's in the hopes that this series won't be more of the 'same old, same old'. I basically enjoy them, but I'm waiting for a spark of new inspiration from this Author--otherwise, my ratings will go back to the usual 3 stars that I've given most of the numerous series books from Ms. Hall.
April 11, 2020
Intense...
I’ve been steadily falling in love with Ms. Hall’s books. I love how everyone’s lives and stories have a way of intertwining.
This is the beginning to Ana’s story, and one I’ve been looking forward to. Unlike her sister Bree, she’s not as confident in her magic, and although she’s no slouch in a fight, she doesn’t have either of her sisters’ ease with battle. She’s always looking for option 2 or 3, assuming the direct option isn’t going to work.
Throw in a studly, powerful super mage like Lachlan and you’ve got a girl who literally falls out of bed, needs alternate options, and is paired up with her sexiest dream/nightmare. She’s got to find her powers, learn how to use them, and control her hormones all while on a super dangerous quest!
Really. What’s not to love?
I’ve been steadily falling in love with Ms. Hall’s books. I love how everyone’s lives and stories have a way of intertwining.
This is the beginning to Ana’s story, and one I’ve been looking forward to. Unlike her sister Bree, she’s not as confident in her magic, and although she’s no slouch in a fight, she doesn’t have either of her sisters’ ease with battle. She’s always looking for option 2 or 3, assuming the direct option isn’t going to work.
Throw in a studly, powerful super mage like Lachlan and you’ve got a girl who literally falls out of bed, needs alternate options, and is paired up with her sexiest dream/nightmare. She’s got to find her powers, learn how to use them, and control her hormones all while on a super dangerous quest!
Really. What’s not to love?
January 31, 2021
I made a HUGE mistake with this book.
I ordered the audiobook version some time ago and only just started to "read" it. I REALLY should've listened to the preview BEFORE purchasing it.
The woman reading this book completely puts me off. Her cadence is weird. She reads every statement and sentence with serious finality and the accents and different character voices puts my teeth on edge. I almost survived the first chapter before being so put off that I felt it necessary to "cleanse my palate" with another audiobook read by voiceover artists I'm familiar with. It took me a whole book (approx 9hrs of audio) to clear the remnants of the Institute of Magic's voice over artist out of my head.
Maybe I'll try this book again with an .epub/mobi version if I ever get around to it.
Unfortunately, this audiobook really let me down. *shudders*
I ordered the audiobook version some time ago and only just started to "read" it. I REALLY should've listened to the preview BEFORE purchasing it.
The woman reading this book completely puts me off. Her cadence is weird. She reads every statement and sentence with serious finality and the accents and different character voices puts my teeth on edge. I almost survived the first chapter before being so put off that I felt it necessary to "cleanse my palate" with another audiobook read by voiceover artists I'm familiar with. It took me a whole book (approx 9hrs of audio) to clear the remnants of the Institute of Magic's voice over artist out of my head.
Maybe I'll try this book again with an .epub/mobi version if I ever get around to it.
Unfortunately, this audiobook really let me down. *shudders*
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