By: Kimberly Loth
Publish Date: February 17, 2016, Audiobook Release April 16, 2019
Format: Audiobook - 6 hrs 5 mins
Narrated By: Angela Rysk
Genre: Fantasy
Series: 1st in The Dragon Kings series
Impression: A young girl's love for dragons could save them.
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Aspen is a skydiving, rock climbing, adrenaline junky. All her life, she’s been fascinated by the dragons who roam near her home in Yellowstone Park. Yes, Dragons. Though no human has ever gotten close enough to touch one.
Except Aspen.
While most people avoid the national parks because of the resident dragons, Aspen spends most of her free time in search of the feared and misunderstood creatures. For her, studying the dragons is a way to escape a painful past and avoid getting too close to anyone.
She’d rather track dragons in the wild and through the lens of her camera than talk to real people. But then Aspen meets a hot new guy at school, Sid King. He’s the one person she’s ever met who shares her obsession with all things dragon. But even as she feels strangely drawn to the mysterious boy, she senses he’s hiding his own set of dark and powerful secrets.
When hikers start turning up dead in the park, everyone suspects the formidable predators. Unless Aspen can prove their innocence, every one of her beloved dragons is in danger of eradication.
After Aspen and Sid uncover a sinister plot behind the brutal attacks, Aspen can no longer deny that Sid somehow knows more about the deaths than he should and the secrets they both keep threaten to rip their lives apart forever.
First Sentence:
Travis Springs usually didn't hike in the national parks.
Purchase At:
Amazon / Barnes & Nobles
Audible (Box Set of Series)
My Thoughts and Summary:
*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Angela Rysk is a new narrator for me. I found I liked her narration as she voiced Aspen and the characters. There are slight differences in tone or attitude, but not drastic shifts. I found I listened to the story more than her voice as I went along. The audio is clear and clean, making it easy to listen to.
Obsidian has to do his ten years as a human, that he's been putting off, now that he's turned to be king. He makes his arrival and finds a young girl that's caught his attention. However, there are people dying in the forest where the dragons roam. Humans view the dragons as dangerous, but now there's one eating humans. To keep the fear of the large, mysterious beasts at a minimum and keep people from attacking, Aspen is determined to prove that the beautiful, majestic dragons are not dangerous. Obsidian, as the king, wants to find the killer. Aspen's love for the dragons brings her to meet Obsidian.
The story is easy to follow. I found the story went the path I sort of figured it would. Which isn't a bad thing, I got what I expected from the characters as the story went. And no great surprises hit me. I have a few questions at the beginning. One of them being the tattoo, but it gets answered. Another question was more a 'I can't believe a mom would do that' moment. I know I'm not a perfect mother and I don't want to question others and their ways, but I can't understand why Aspen's mother would spike her ice cream with Valium. That feels a bit extreme when she didn't even know what was going on with Aspen.
I like Aspen. She seems like a smart girl. I think she pieced things out early on, but then was mislead by Sid to not know the truth. Aspen's a bit of a dare devil, but I got the feel she likes the excitement. Maybe an adrenaline addict or one with lack of fear with what she enjoys - propelling and other activities, along with pushing her limits with dragons. Aspen loves dragons, which are not known about and are feared by the majority of humans. Aspen's got a bit of past that she's not shared with anyone, abuse from a boy. This is important in Aspen's character and comes into play with what's happening.
Sid is an interesting character. I do like him though. He seems to know how things are going to eventually end for him, but he doesn't care.
A few small things had me curious though. I'm curious as to how Sid was able to easily fall for another after all the years with Skye. He seemed to genuinely care for her, maybe even love. But then things change in an instant. When Aspen started spending more time with Sid, did she still go out to see Obsidian? It seems as though her nightly visits with Obsidian ended, but I don't know. And Sid is to be watched closer because of who he is to be. But it felt as though he wasn't really watched at all. Sure there was Theo and Pearl on occasion, but that felt to be it. I thought there'd be more stopping by to check in on him. Although... maybe.... Hmmm. If that's who I think it is that might explain why Sid is so free to do as he wants.... Yep, you have to listen or read the book to piece that one together. I'm hoping the next book will answer some of these holes for me.
This book can be read by Young Adults and Adults alike. However, I do want to mention there is a memory of a terrible night for Aspen. There is hinting of and mention of rape. I want you to be aware. There is death in the book as well. There feels to be little emotion from the characters other than Aspen or others not allowed to go hiking.
I enjoyed the idea of the book, but it could have used some help with the holes in the events and emotions. The way the story ends, I have to go to the next book to see what happens to Aspen. Ugh. It is a cliff hanger ending. But all the books are out and ready for you to read or listen to.
****If my thoughts helped you, please click Yes at Amazon. Thank you!
Angela Rysk is a new narrator for me. I found I liked her narration as she voiced Aspen and the characters. There are slight differences in tone or attitude, but not drastic shifts. I found I listened to the story more than her voice as I went along. The audio is clear and clean, making it easy to listen to.
Obsidian has to do his ten years as a human, that he's been putting off, now that he's turned to be king. He makes his arrival and finds a young girl that's caught his attention. However, there are people dying in the forest where the dragons roam. Humans view the dragons as dangerous, but now there's one eating humans. To keep the fear of the large, mysterious beasts at a minimum and keep people from attacking, Aspen is determined to prove that the beautiful, majestic dragons are not dangerous. Obsidian, as the king, wants to find the killer. Aspen's love for the dragons brings her to meet Obsidian.
The story is easy to follow. I found the story went the path I sort of figured it would. Which isn't a bad thing, I got what I expected from the characters as the story went. And no great surprises hit me. I have a few questions at the beginning. One of them being the tattoo, but it gets answered. Another question was more a 'I can't believe a mom would do that' moment. I know I'm not a perfect mother and I don't want to question others and their ways, but I can't understand why Aspen's mother would spike her ice cream with Valium. That feels a bit extreme when she didn't even know what was going on with Aspen.
I like Aspen. She seems like a smart girl. I think she pieced things out early on, but then was mislead by Sid to not know the truth. Aspen's a bit of a dare devil, but I got the feel she likes the excitement. Maybe an adrenaline addict or one with lack of fear with what she enjoys - propelling and other activities, along with pushing her limits with dragons. Aspen loves dragons, which are not known about and are feared by the majority of humans. Aspen's got a bit of past that she's not shared with anyone, abuse from a boy. This is important in Aspen's character and comes into play with what's happening.
Sid is an interesting character. I do like him though. He seems to know how things are going to eventually end for him, but he doesn't care.
A few small things had me curious though. I'm curious as to how Sid was able to easily fall for another after all the years with Skye. He seemed to genuinely care for her, maybe even love. But then things change in an instant. When Aspen started spending more time with Sid, did she still go out to see Obsidian? It seems as though her nightly visits with Obsidian ended, but I don't know. And Sid is to be watched closer because of who he is to be. But it felt as though he wasn't really watched at all. Sure there was Theo and Pearl on occasion, but that felt to be it. I thought there'd be more stopping by to check in on him. Although... maybe.... Hmmm. If that's who I think it is that might explain why Sid is so free to do as he wants.... Yep, you have to listen or read the book to piece that one together. I'm hoping the next book will answer some of these holes for me.
This book can be read by Young Adults and Adults alike. However, I do want to mention there is a memory of a terrible night for Aspen. There is hinting of and mention of rape. I want you to be aware. There is death in the book as well. There feels to be little emotion from the characters other than Aspen or others not allowed to go hiking.
I enjoyed the idea of the book, but it could have used some help with the holes in the events and emotions. The way the story ends, I have to go to the next book to see what happens to Aspen. Ugh. It is a cliff hanger ending. But all the books are out and ready for you to read or listen to.
****If my thoughts helped you, please click Yes at Amazon. Thank you!
I do like the sounds of Aspen!
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