Abe, Shana - The Dream Thief

Wow, it's been a while since I've read a romance.

Anyhow, this is the second book of a trilogy starting with The Smoke Thief, but thankfully, it stands just fine on its own, since I haven't read the first one.

Abe has created a fantasy race of drakons, human-dragon shapeshifters, who live side-by-side with humans, although the humans don't really know about this. I gather that the hero and heroine of the first book are the parents of Lia Langford, but thankfully, there's not much backstory you have to know and only one scene with the previous couple.

Lia Langford cannot make the Turn and shapeshift into smoke or dragon-form, as her mother and sisters can. But she dreams the future, and in her dreams, she helps the human thief Zane steal the draumr diamond that can control the drakon.

Depending on what you think of the drakon, the whole thing with the diamond and the mystical dreams and telling the future really doesn't have all that much to do with the relationship. Also, thankfully, though apparently the drakon mate for life, there doesn't seem to be the stupid "ROAR! We mate! I revert to caveman stereotypes and attempt to beat you over the head and drag you home!" Of course, that may only be because Lia is the drakon and Zane is the human.

This is a fairly pleasant read; I liked both Lia and Zane, Zane was nicely edgy but not too alpha male, and most of all, they actually talk to each other and make snide comments and have a sense of humor about things. I also like how Lia is portrayed as different because she's a drakon, but how Zane takes it in stride.

I sort of wish that there were more about the alternate future that Lia dreams about, but that would probably make this story much darker than it actually was.

All in all, fun and sexy, and I put the first one on hold at the library.

Hodgell, P.C. - God Stalk

This may be one of those books that I reread a few years later and discover I love, but right now, it just didn't work for me.

Jame somehow lands in the city of Tai-tastigon, in which there are many thieves and even more gods. She somehow ends up being apprenticed to a thief, despite being a Kencyr (apparently a race known for honor). Assorted stuff happens that I can't quite remember.

I'm not sure why, but somehow, all the elements of the book -- the underground thief society, life at the inn Jame stays at, the gods of Tai-tastigon -- just never quite coalesced for me. I can't really remember what happened or why, or which bits were the important ones. Individually, everything was really cool, and I loved the city of Tai-tastigon, the feel of myth in the background, Jame's Kencyr heritage, and the mystery of her existence. But I just couldn't put any of it together.

Hachikuro icons!

I think about two people will be even tempted to use any of these, given the number of people who have watched this, but that is ok. I love this show so much that I icon it anyway!

Also, it's just so pretty and watercolor-y and going through all the screencaps reminded me of the show again and made me feel all happy and warm and fuzzy inside.

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