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Almost a Dragon #1
The Dragon Thief
I have a dangerous secret. I'm more than a human, but less than a dragon.
My name is Isobel Drake. I thought I was the only one of my kind, a freak pretending to be human. But when a dragon warrior unexpectedly appears to demand my aid, I realize for the first time in my life that I'm not alone.
Like me, Tam appears human. Like me, he's hiding his true nature. Too bad he’s made it clear that I’m a lesser creature. Yet he needs me because of my unique skills.
I was raised as human. I know my city inside and out. My brand-new business advertises that I can find anything, or anyone. Tam wants me to help him recover a stolen dragon egg. At first, I turn him down. Not only is he trouble, but he can't even pay me! Then the arrogant jerk tries to blackmail me. Nice try, but no.
But then, I find out more about Tam's quest, and I can't turn him away.
There are others determined to find the egg: evil vampires and sinister mages who lust after all that a captive dragon can give them: Accelerated healing from injuries. Immunity from sunlight. Boosted magical powers. They'll resort to savage methods to keep what they’ve stolen. The fate of a helpless hatchling lies in my hands. I can't turn my back on a vulnerable dragon child.
To save her, I'll have to work closely with Tam. I just hope I don't kill him first.
A thrilling new urban fantasy series featuring Isobel Drake, a half-dragon hybrid who battles shapeshifters, vampires, and dragons.
My name is Isobel Drake. I thought I was the only one of my kind, a freak pretending to be human. But when a dragon warrior unexpectedly appears to demand my aid, I realize for the first time in my life that I'm not alone.
Like me, Tam appears human. Like me, he's hiding his true nature. Too bad he’s made it clear that I’m a lesser creature. Yet he needs me because of my unique skills.
I was raised as human. I know my city inside and out. My brand-new business advertises that I can find anything, or anyone. Tam wants me to help him recover a stolen dragon egg. At first, I turn him down. Not only is he trouble, but he can't even pay me! Then the arrogant jerk tries to blackmail me. Nice try, but no.
But then, I find out more about Tam's quest, and I can't turn him away.
There are others determined to find the egg: evil vampires and sinister mages who lust after all that a captive dragon can give them: Accelerated healing from injuries. Immunity from sunlight. Boosted magical powers. They'll resort to savage methods to keep what they’ve stolen. The fate of a helpless hatchling lies in my hands. I can't turn my back on a vulnerable dragon child.
To save her, I'll have to work closely with Tam. I just hope I don't kill him first.
A thrilling new urban fantasy series featuring Isobel Drake, a half-dragon hybrid who battles shapeshifters, vampires, and dragons.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2021
120 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 30, 2023
4,5 stars - English Ebook
Quote: The predator who lived inside me stirred and woke from its nap. My heart was pounding with excitement and nerves.
Quote: Fynn nodded and relaxed a little. I knew him well enough to guess that he’d been worried about vamps from La Reina coming after us.
Quote: But scent didn’t lie. Here was a dragon who could pass for a human. A mutant. I'd always thought I was the only one.
Quote: Tam’s next bite of food stopped halfway to his mouth. “Shit,” he said, drawing out the syllable like a good ol’ boy. “Catching the attention of the vamp head honcho is never good.”
I sm sure to want to read the next book in this series. If you like "urban fantasy", atleast that is it to me, you should read this one for sure.
Quote: The predator who lived inside me stirred and woke from its nap. My heart was pounding with excitement and nerves.
Quote: Fynn nodded and relaxed a little. I knew him well enough to guess that he’d been worried about vamps from La Reina coming after us.
Quote: But scent didn’t lie. Here was a dragon who could pass for a human. A mutant. I'd always thought I was the only one.
Quote: Tam’s next bite of food stopped halfway to his mouth. “Shit,” he said, drawing out the syllable like a good ol’ boy. “Catching the attention of the vamp head honcho is never good.”
I sm sure to want to read the next book in this series. If you like "urban fantasy", atleast that is it to me, you should read this one for sure.
March 3, 2023
I am a bit sad I have to rate this so low because, in contrast to many other books of this type, the author actually tried. It's not just the usual chaining of tired tropes.
This one is trying to go for a vivid and complex world with many different actors and behind-the-scene political machinations but the problem is that the author fails to fit the intended plot inside all these moving parts properly.
The further I read the more examples of flawed and inconsistent logic piled up.
And towards the end of chapter 34, it was just too much to take for me. The MC increasingly comes to conclusions that just don't follow the information she has been given or she disregards all contradictory information. And it's not a case of an unreliable narrator that makes mistakes.
To me, it seems like the author either just couldn't keep track of all the moving parts or she couldn't come up with a believable way to get to the story beats she wanted to reach.
My second problem towards the end has probably the same cause. The author keeps falling back on much more simplistic and two-dimensional tropes to tie everything together somehow and is not able to properly connect all the complex and ambiguous characters in a satisfying way.
I would have loved the book the author tried to write here. But the execution is just not up to the task.
I think this was just too ambitious and the prequel of this book works much better for the same reason. It's just much less complex.
This one is trying to go for a vivid and complex world with many different actors and behind-the-scene political machinations but the problem is that the author fails to fit the intended plot inside all these moving parts properly.
The further I read the more examples of flawed and inconsistent logic piled up.
And towards the end of chapter 34, it was just too much to take for me. The MC increasingly comes to conclusions that just don't follow the information she has been given or she disregards all contradictory information. And it's not a case of an unreliable narrator that makes mistakes.
To me, it seems like the author either just couldn't keep track of all the moving parts or she couldn't come up with a believable way to get to the story beats she wanted to reach.
My second problem towards the end has probably the same cause. The author keeps falling back on much more simplistic and two-dimensional tropes to tie everything together somehow and is not able to properly connect all the complex and ambiguous characters in a satisfying way.
I would have loved the book the author tried to write here. But the execution is just not up to the task.
I think this was just too ambitious and the prequel of this book works much better for the same reason. It's just much less complex.
March 1, 2022
I really wish this didn't end on this kind of cliffhanger, where it's 'Solved one issue, but here's another!'
January 1, 2022
Awesome pacing and characterization all wrapped up in a sweet bildungsroman punctuated by hard-hitting action sequences. (I got so wrapped up in the story that I missed my bus stop--twice!)
July 24, 2021
Soo... This book, I liked it a lot, I mean its your standard copy paste paranormal romance novel, the difference with the lot that I have read is that the worldbuilding is really interesting and it make you think a lots of question, but there's no answer for any, so the wasted potential ended being a really tiresome feeling during all the read.
Also, its have a non ending, and the some of the plot twist aren't clear enought for the reader.
And I enjoy it because the stuff that was fun, was really, really fun, still, I own this book a lot, so I'm waiting for the next one but this is hardly a recomendation.
Also, its have a non ending, and the some of the plot twist aren't clear enought for the reader.
And I enjoy it because the stuff that was fun, was really, really fun, still, I own this book a lot, so I'm waiting for the next one but this is hardly a recomendation.
July 10, 2021
The Dragon Thief
What an adventure! Isobel Drake is living as a human. She passes for human and lives with her dad, Fynn Drake. In reality, Izzy is a hybrid dragon. She has a feathered torso and back but no wings. She was sold by her mother, a Dragon Queen, as a three-year-old to vampires as a blood slave. Fynn Drake her adoptive father had recently lost his wife and daughter (the real Isobel) and took Izzy in and raised her as his own.
Fynn and Izzy collect Dragon’s Blood from the Dragon Reservations and trade it for money. Fynn is a world renown dragon expert and author. Izzy and he live in California. They love and support each other. They do not like or trust the vampires. Dragon’s Blood heals vampires and allows them to walk in the sunlight. Dragon’s blood is worth a lot. Izzy has recently discovered a new talent for finding things and is starting her own business.
Fynn and Izzy are meeting with their middleman Claudio when they are ambushed by vampires. Izzy tries hard to protect her father and Claudio but she must not show her abnormal speed and strength. It is a hard-fought battle. The vampire Domina, Aimee Jordana, takes control of the rogue vampires. They learn that there is a new vampire in town. He is running for council, Stephan Vashli.
All Fynn and Izzy want to do is go home and tend to their injuries. When they get home, they find their neighbors out defending their home. A man has broken a window to gain access. There is a man waiting, no wait, that is no man that is a dragon! He is looking for Dr. Fynn Drake. He wants help finding something. They invite him in to hear his story and find out what he wants. Tam is a hybrid dragon in search of a dragon’s egg.
This is a start of an adventure that involves hybrid dragons passing for human, vampires, and humans. Izzy must collaborate with a vampire. They are trying to find a fertile dragon’s egg that was stolen. I could not put this book down. So many good characters and world building. I want the next book to find out how Izzy navigates protecting the egg and finding her place.
What an adventure! Isobel Drake is living as a human. She passes for human and lives with her dad, Fynn Drake. In reality, Izzy is a hybrid dragon. She has a feathered torso and back but no wings. She was sold by her mother, a Dragon Queen, as a three-year-old to vampires as a blood slave. Fynn Drake her adoptive father had recently lost his wife and daughter (the real Isobel) and took Izzy in and raised her as his own.
Fynn and Izzy collect Dragon’s Blood from the Dragon Reservations and trade it for money. Fynn is a world renown dragon expert and author. Izzy and he live in California. They love and support each other. They do not like or trust the vampires. Dragon’s Blood heals vampires and allows them to walk in the sunlight. Dragon’s blood is worth a lot. Izzy has recently discovered a new talent for finding things and is starting her own business.
Fynn and Izzy are meeting with their middleman Claudio when they are ambushed by vampires. Izzy tries hard to protect her father and Claudio but she must not show her abnormal speed and strength. It is a hard-fought battle. The vampire Domina, Aimee Jordana, takes control of the rogue vampires. They learn that there is a new vampire in town. He is running for council, Stephan Vashli.
All Fynn and Izzy want to do is go home and tend to their injuries. When they get home, they find their neighbors out defending their home. A man has broken a window to gain access. There is a man waiting, no wait, that is no man that is a dragon! He is looking for Dr. Fynn Drake. He wants help finding something. They invite him in to hear his story and find out what he wants. Tam is a hybrid dragon in search of a dragon’s egg.
This is a start of an adventure that involves hybrid dragons passing for human, vampires, and humans. Izzy must collaborate with a vampire. They are trying to find a fertile dragon’s egg that was stolen. I could not put this book down. So many good characters and world building. I want the next book to find out how Izzy navigates protecting the egg and finding her place.
August 16, 2022
Good start to an urban fantasy series
I really enjoyed the first book of this series. The storyline and the characters were smart funny and wildly appealing. Izzy is a dragon hybrid who can pass as a human and believes she’s the only one. She grew up with a loving human father, Finn, after her clan culled her. She now runs a business findings lost things. Tammuz is also a dragon human hybrid who comes to Izzy for help retrieving a stolen dragon’s egg. While searching for the egg, there are a lot of other parties interested in Izzy and Tam and their search including vampires, mages, and humans. Izzy and Tammuz are real, relatable people/dragons who have flaws, but are really trying to just do their best with the hand that they’ve been dealt. The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - fighting, sweet moments, dangerous situations, paranormal creatures, evil actors, henchmen, political machinations, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, mystical coincidences, snark, plot twists, light romance, and laughs. While the main story arc of this book is resolved, the epilogue ends on a cliffhanger/teaser for the next book so be prepared. 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed the first book of this series. The storyline and the characters were smart funny and wildly appealing. Izzy is a dragon hybrid who can pass as a human and believes she’s the only one. She grew up with a loving human father, Finn, after her clan culled her. She now runs a business findings lost things. Tammuz is also a dragon human hybrid who comes to Izzy for help retrieving a stolen dragon’s egg. While searching for the egg, there are a lot of other parties interested in Izzy and Tam and their search including vampires, mages, and humans. Izzy and Tammuz are real, relatable people/dragons who have flaws, but are really trying to just do their best with the hand that they’ve been dealt. The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - fighting, sweet moments, dangerous situations, paranormal creatures, evil actors, henchmen, political machinations, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, mystical coincidences, snark, plot twists, light romance, and laughs. While the main story arc of this book is resolved, the epilogue ends on a cliffhanger/teaser for the next book so be prepared. 4.5 stars
July 18, 2025
“The Dragon Thief”, first full-length book in the 'Almost a Dragon' series, is definitely not the book I wanted to read after the prequel “Dragon's Blood”.
In that novella a female dragon/human child, Isobel (Izzy), is rescued and brought home by dragon expert Fynn Drake.
She can pass as a human (mostly) and he plannede to raise her as his own child.
I thought the sequel would be about how she grew up, the challenges she faced, how she fit in with humans, and whether she could reconcile her dual nature.
Instead, she is now a young adult - those missing years would seem to be gone forever!
She always thought she was the only surviving hybrid but it turns out that she's wrong, there are at least two others - both male and around her age.
One has come from the same dragon reservation as Izzy and is on a mission to retrieve a stolen dragon egg, one that contains a future Dragon Queen.
Izzy, despite her misgivings, gets involved and pays a heavy price, one that will affect her life for years to come.
It's interesting and has a couple of novel ideas but, overall, it didn't quite gel for me.
3 Stars.
In that novella a female dragon/human child, Isobel (Izzy), is rescued and brought home by dragon expert Fynn Drake.
She can pass as a human (mostly) and he plannede to raise her as his own child.
I thought the sequel would be about how she grew up, the challenges she faced, how she fit in with humans, and whether she could reconcile her dual nature.
Instead, she is now a young adult - those missing years would seem to be gone forever!
She always thought she was the only surviving hybrid but it turns out that she's wrong, there are at least two others - both male and around her age.
One has come from the same dragon reservation as Izzy and is on a mission to retrieve a stolen dragon egg, one that contains a future Dragon Queen.
Izzy, despite her misgivings, gets involved and pays a heavy price, one that will affect her life for years to come.
It's interesting and has a couple of novel ideas but, overall, it didn't quite gel for me.
3 Stars.
July 10, 2021
Izzy and Tam's Quest . . .
Isobel Drake, a hybrid dragon with no wings, thought she was the only one of her kind, and not fully human. But then Tam, an arrogant hybrid dragon warrior, demands her help. He looks down on her, but needs a skill she possesses to help him find a stolen dragon egg. She refuses until she finds out what the enemy will do with the egg, and she can’t allow that to happen. The evil vampires and sinister mages will use the innocent dragon child to gain accelerated healing from injuries, immunity from sunlight, and boosted magical powers. She has to rescue the helpless hatchling even if it means working with Tam.
I loved the story line and the characters who are immersed in a struggle to rescue a dragon egg and save the hatchling from a horrible fate. Just maybe the arrogant Tam will develop some new respect for Izzy along the way. The author writes in a way that the world is built up around the reader who feels fully immersed in the “reality” it brings. Grab your copy and see how the search for the dragon egg adventure turns out!
Isobel Drake, a hybrid dragon with no wings, thought she was the only one of her kind, and not fully human. But then Tam, an arrogant hybrid dragon warrior, demands her help. He looks down on her, but needs a skill she possesses to help him find a stolen dragon egg. She refuses until she finds out what the enemy will do with the egg, and she can’t allow that to happen. The evil vampires and sinister mages will use the innocent dragon child to gain accelerated healing from injuries, immunity from sunlight, and boosted magical powers. She has to rescue the helpless hatchling even if it means working with Tam.
I loved the story line and the characters who are immersed in a struggle to rescue a dragon egg and save the hatchling from a horrible fate. Just maybe the arrogant Tam will develop some new respect for Izzy along the way. The author writes in a way that the world is built up around the reader who feels fully immersed in the “reality” it brings. Grab your copy and see how the search for the dragon egg adventure turns out!
July 12, 2021
This is a NON-SPOILER REVIEW of The Dragon Thief by Marissa Brandt. This is the second book in the Almost A Dragon series and it really kicks this series up a notch. I absolutely loved the first book, Dragon's Blood with all the action and drama in La Reina. And now Izzy and her dad, Fynn, have settled in Yerba Buena to what they would like to consider a normal human life. But trouble comes knocking in the form of Tammuz and life for Izzy is about to change in a radical way. Marissa Brandt gives life to a wonderfully diverse cast of characters that keep evolving and demonstrating that change, even when disastrous, is not necessarily a bad thing... until it is. This is a great series that will draw the reader in and have a mesmerizing effect. You won't be able to put it down. PG-13 for violence. So worth the read!
This honest and voluntary review was made possible by reading a copy through Booksprout.
This honest and voluntary review was made possible by reading a copy through Booksprout.
May 26, 2024
Audiobook: I enjoyed this first book to the "Almost A Dragon" series a lot. Isobel Drake thought she was the only one of her kind as she was part human, part dragon. When Isobel met Tam, she was shocked to find that Tam was like her in that he also looked human, but this covered his dragon nature. Tam asked Isobel to help him to recover a stolen dragon egg. The story had many twists and turns. I liked Isobel, Tam, and her father. I was entertained by their interactions. The power machinations between those who wanted the dragon egg and those who were searching for the egg were complex and entertaining. This first book ended on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to get started on the next book. Sarah Beth Goer's narration was great, and her performance added to my enjoyment of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.
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August 23, 2025I have a feeling I’m not going to finish this. I don’t want to rate it - that seems unfair. I’ve been reading it during lunches at work and haven’t been super interested/invested. Which may just be that I’m not in the right mood for it. It’s also a bit overwhelming because I have this omnibus edition of 4? Or so of the books in this series and I’m only through the prologue novella and half of this first book, which is the shortest of the series by a whole bunch. If I could finish the first and just set the whole thing aside unless/until I got into the mood again, I would, but I checked out reviews and multiple people mentioned this book just ending without wrapping things up. I hate that sort of non-ending. Anyway, today my greatest desire was to jump out of this and find something else to read. So…based on experience, unlikely to jump back in again. There are just so many books out there.
July 13, 2021
“Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.”
Isobel and Fynn are Dragon blood traders. They've created a life for themselves that works, or at least seems to, until the week their life proves to be a cascading set of dominos.
I'm glad I had read the prequel before diving into this Kindle Unlimited book. The prequel does a great job of establishing this world, and the relations between the species. This story provides plenty of call backs, so it stands solidly on its own... but the prequel definitely enriched my reading.
I hesitate to classify this as a done in one as the major mystery is resolved, with a compelling whodunit, and several competing factions, but the story ends in a manner that left me wishing I could instantly turn the page and start the next book.
Isobel and Fynn are Dragon blood traders. They've created a life for themselves that works, or at least seems to, until the week their life proves to be a cascading set of dominos.
I'm glad I had read the prequel before diving into this Kindle Unlimited book. The prequel does a great job of establishing this world, and the relations between the species. This story provides plenty of call backs, so it stands solidly on its own... but the prequel definitely enriched my reading.
I hesitate to classify this as a done in one as the major mystery is resolved, with a compelling whodunit, and several competing factions, but the story ends in a manner that left me wishing I could instantly turn the page and start the next book.
February 6, 2025
HOLY SMOKES, I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with Izzy and her adopted dad! Izzy is a part dragon masquerading as a human and selling dragon's blood to keep a roof over their head and to eat. She is a fierce fighter, and she even killed a male Vampire while she tried not to let her secret out. When a stranger asked if they could help him with a task to find an item as her human dad adopted her even though her mom threw her out and tried to sell her, her mom felt that Fynn OWED her! I admired Izzy for protecting her dad. Book one ended before I was ready to say goodbye to Izzy, but now I can't wait to read book two.
July 23, 2021
Paranormal
Interesting paranormal action. Dizzy is amazingly naive. For the foremost authority on dragons Dad doesn't know a lot. Dizzy keeps owing favours without arguing that she doesn't owe them just agrees, negotiates terms and doesn't insist they be included in the vows. Some issues with all that.
Interesting paranormal action. Dizzy is amazingly naive. For the foremost authority on dragons Dad doesn't know a lot. Dizzy keeps owing favours without arguing that she doesn't owe them just agrees, negotiates terms and doesn't insist they be included in the vows. Some issues with all that.
June 16, 2022
Honestly, disappointingly cliche with a lot paint-by-numbers writing. Poor worldbuilding, too. Despite a lot of apparently "attractive" guys, none of it goes anywhere and I don't really get a sense of the MC's feelings or beliefs (despite being 1st person). Also, the stuff with her and Vashli is borderline pedophilia and creepy as hell.
November 25, 2023
Cool story
I was intrigued by the title. The story line was easy to follow and gradually builds up as it introduces the characters. I enjoyed reading this book and looking the rest of the series.
I was intrigued by the title. The story line was easy to follow and gradually builds up as it introduces the characters. I enjoyed reading this book and looking the rest of the series.
November 4, 2021
DNF
I could not get into this book at all. Liked the premise, but didn't particularly like the characters. Very lackluster. Not my cup of tea I guess.
I could not get into this book at all. Liked the premise, but didn't particularly like the characters. Very lackluster. Not my cup of tea I guess.
January 22, 2023
Great book
This is a fun read with a little suspense, romance and danger all mixed into a unique but familiar world. Try a chapter and stay for the book.
This is a fun read with a little suspense, romance and danger all mixed into a unique but familiar world. Try a chapter and stay for the book.
January 2, 2025
I thought this would end up with dragonriders. :(
December 16, 2024
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring.)
1.75*
Interesting idea, I just didn't care about any of the characters.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
1.75*
Interesting idea, I just didn't care about any of the characters.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews