Into the Firestorm: Dirk version

Slayers #6

by C.J. Hill, Janette Rallison

The attacks on the nation have begun. As city after city falls, Tori Hampton and the rest of the Slayers are powerless to stop Overdrake, his dragons, or the EMP they employ. And what’s worse, Overdrake’s son, Dirk, is no longer an alley. He’s an enemy who knows the Slayer’s tactics, plays, and weaknesses. This is doubly hard on Tori because still has feelings for him. How can she fight someone when she still thinks about kissing him? She doesn't want to destroy him, or for that matter, the dragons.

In C. J. Hill's action-packed conclusion to the Slayers series, readers will find a group of teens who won't give up without a fight.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Dragons, Adventure

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2019

About the author

C.J. Hill is the pseudonym for a popular young adult author who makes her fantasy debut with Slayers.

Reviews

[T.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I like Dirk more than Jesse, I oddly preferred the Jesse version. I think it flowed a little better and was more believable. Naturally, this is still great (it's Janette Rallison after all!), but I recommend reading both versions (even for Dirk fans like myself). 4.25 stars

[Tiana]

Re-read. Original review below:

I've always been Team Dirk, so I was relieved to hear the author was going to do two versions of the ending of this series. And what a way to end! So much action, romance, and witty banter. I loved seeing how it all came together. If you've been waiting for all the books to be out before starting this series, wait no more! So great.

[Jenimightread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen. This series as a whole is not perfect. There are so many subplots that I feel have too much unwarranted focus. Like do I need to read about Tori's constant struggles with covering up her dragon-slaying from her family and how she gets out of their various family events? Did I really need to read about the political subplot with that other senator? Also, I wish the other slayers had more fleshing out like Leo, Danielle, Shang, and Kody. I wanted MORE. Man, even Ryker deserved a bit more fleshing out because he was pretty one-dimensional, though I still enjoyed his addition. And I didn't give a shit about one of the love interests, Jesse.

But the author really gave a LOT of thought about the story and all the twists and turns it took. Dirk's character is VERY fun, and he is the best written out of the bunch, I will say. He's definitely my fav character. I also really liked Tori, which I did not expect. I thought she was quite nuanced, and I loved the struggle she faced between her dragon lord and slayer side. Aaron is another great character!!!! What a great, brave kid!!! Damn!! And I was CHEERING when Willow found her power!!!!!! I think the reason I wanted more from the other slayers is: what do you mean Willow brought Leo, Shang, Danielle, and Alyssa back, and I didn't get to know more about Leo and Danielle, especially Danielle??? I still know NOTHING about her! Also, I expected Leo and Danielle to be more shocked because, HELLO, Dirk turned traitor since they left? I wanted more of Dirk's interactions with his friends and how they made up! AAAAAGH.

But Dirk's conversion from the dark to the good side was quite well-done, IMO. Just wished Aaron had more of a chance to do something with Minerva when he escaped!!! Like he could have helped with the showdown somehow! But he did a good job overall, leaking the information. It's just that he really didn't need to escape with Minerva? Though I guess he wouldn't have managed to call his mother and realise she was hurt if he hadn't (I think)?

I would have really loved a better showdown where the others had more of an opportunity to help, especially Danielle and Alyssa, just to indicate they were back in the game. But look, this is not, like, major criticism — I wouldn't want these things if the pieces weren't set up so well. And Ryker, Tori, Jesse, Kody and Leo vs Dirk and Khan was fun as hell.

Also, really just wanna laud the whole scene when Dirk was exposed as a traitor. THAT WAS FUCKING EXHILARATING. Book 2 is definitely the best of the series.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this series a couple of years ago when the third book came out. It's not my usual genre at all, but I was captivated by the story of a megalomaniac who wanted to use dragons to help him become the leader of the world, and the group of teenagers who could fight dragons and were going to stop him. This is the long awaited conclusion to the series, and because the author hates to disappoint, she's written two different endings to the love triangle of Tori, Jesse and Dirk. I read the Jesse version first. Also, because the author is awesome and knows that sometimes we readers forget things, at the end of the book is a synopsis of the first four books you can read before starting in on this thrilling conclusion.

This book waste no time getting back into things. It starts off with Dirk doing his father's bidding and using one of the dragons' shrieks to disable several cities, and the action doesn't stop as Overdrake goes on to attack Washington, D.C. It's also non-stop action on the Slayers side of the battle too as former Slayers are found and their powers are restored. You'll have to read it but it's pretty cool how it works out. Of course good overcomes evil but it's a heck of a battle. After the battle with the dragons is over and Overdrake is finally taken down, Tori has to make her decision between Jesse and Dirk, even though she doesn't want to hurt anyone or lose either of them as a friend.

This story has so much action but also the wonder humor and fun dialogue the author is known for. I think this is a great ending to the series although it seems the author left an opening for another series if she chooses to go in that direction.

I read both versions because while reading the series I couldn't decide if I was team Jesse or team Dirk. I still can't decide, lol. I love that the author did two endings for the fans of the series. Some say the ending to the Jesse version is more believable, but we're talking about dragons here so I say anything is believable at this point.

[Jessica Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Dirk Version

I was disappointed to learn that the author wrote the Dirk version for her daughter, perhaps, her original intention was for Tori to be with Jesse. I read the Dirk in full and skimmed the Jesse version to catch the variations. The Jesse version left me feeling so sad at the end, bittersweet. Dirk had been through so much, he lost everything. He deserves the happier ending that the Dirk version gives him because his relationship to Tori brings him back to the other slayers. I honestly felt like Dirk loved Tori more the entire time. Not only did they have awesome chemistry, but their relationship was more meaningful because she helped to bring him back from the dark side. So read the Dirk version. All the stories were more about him than Jesse anyway, so why should Jesse get the girl? What did he sacrifice for Tori? What would it cost him to lose Tori? Practically nothing but a few hurt feelings. Dirk's storyline was super impressive. He was the most likeable character, even though he made bad decisions, you could completely understand why. I loved the plots of all the books. The characters were great, but even Overdrake was a complex character. He was insane but in a totally logical way. So many great characters and dialogue. Read the Dirk version! It's funnier and more romantic.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was such a big fan of the books when i first read them in middle school and now I'm in college. I usually hate love triangles because they're just nasty in my opinion, but C.J Hill wrote it so well that I had no issues is Tori choose Jesse or Dirk. I liked both of them and I honestly couldn't decide. And I thought these Jesse and Dirk versions were going to be about the story told in their perspective but it's a different ending. I never imagined a book could have different endings. I read the Dirk version first and was surprised when Tori ended up with Dirk but I didn't mind it, I loved it. The Next day I went back to read the last chapter but was surprised to see another version of it. ( I downloaded the book version that had both Dirk and Jesse version). I was so flabbergasted I read THAT ending and she ended up with Jesse. Even before I read the final book I secretly hoped she would end up with both somehow because they were just too well written. LOVED LOVED this series so much.

[Grace Barlage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and a great ending to this amazing series! I love the action/romance combination. I was Team Dirk from the beginning but I love how he will do anything for Tori. I read the Jesse version as well and I like how this book gives Dirk a little more of a happy ending after everything and you get to know more about the dragons situation in the end. My only complaint would be that only about 30% of this book was different from the Jesse version, but if you are only going to read one or the other they are both great.

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that there are two full complete versions. This version, to me, felt complete. There was a reason for her being a dragon lord. A reason why certain things happened. I loved that fact that the "bad boy" was actually good and got the girl in the end. I didn't like the fact that Jesse didn't try a little harder. I thought that Jesse could have still been in the tree with her instead of Willow and keeping her safe another time, it would have added to the conflict a bit more. However, this version seemed right to me.

[S.J. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

I thought this was a great conclusion to the series. It had action, revelations, and dramatic moments. I've always liked Dirk and I found his arc in this story to be believable. The ending was very interesting, if a bit unrealistic (it is a story about dragons though anyway!) There were some errors throughout the book that were a bit hard to ignore: a misplaced "c" here, missing or added quotations marks there, etc. Overall I really liked this one. I'm off to read the Jesse version now...

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only difference between this book and the Jesse version is that it makes you happy if you're team Dirk. Still an excellent conclusion, clean, dramatic with some funny parts, and exciting. I skimmed the book and read the parts that were different from the Jesse version. Just as good as the rest of the series.

[Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this conclusion, although it somehow felt a bit like working through every presented problem than the ending to a story & series. It was written well, I just felt like the conclusion between Tori & Dirk could have used a little more fleshing out.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely!

Do I love and support Dirk? 100% I have totally been Team Dirk from the beginning.

But do I think a Team Dirk ending actually made sense based on the relational and plot trajectories that have been building via the first four books? No. No I do not.

[Sienna✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Great way to have Tori end up with Dirk!

[GPReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this entire series! Book 5 has plenty of action as well as emotional turmoil. There's an alternate ending... They're both perfect endings. I can't choose between the two.