Book & Audio Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron

Nice Dragons Finish Last
Author: Rachel Aaron
Narrator: Vikas Adam
Series: Heartstrikers (Book 1)
Publication: Audible Studios (November 18, 2014); Aaron/Bach (July 13, 2014)
Length: 13 hours and 31 minutes; 287 p.

Description: As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn't fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience.

Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ--a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit--Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.

He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons...

My Thoughts: Julius Heartstriker has a problem. Actually, he has a multitude of problems. His mother has gotten to the end of her rope with her very unsatisfactory son and has bound his magic and dropped him off in the DFZ to make something of himself or die. The clan seer has helped him a little; he's given him a phone and a small bank account -$98.02 to be exact. Julius has also been sent to his older brother Ian to do a small task for him.

Ian needs to find a dragon and send her back to her clan and he's given Julian a magical chain to bind her. He's also given Julius a very short time frame to get the task done. He needs a mage to put an illusion on him so that he can sneak into the party where the runaway dragon named Katya is going to be. He finds Marci who is on the run from Las Vegas with a magical object that some mobsters want. But her price is right and they become partners. 

But Katya has already left the party by time they arrive and they need a new plan if Julian is going to save his neck. 

The story is filled with magical creatures, plots inside of plots, and a growing friendship between March and Julius. It has great worldbuilding and intriguing characters. There is lots of action and intrigue and, despite what Julius's mother and the rest of the dragons think, nice dragons don't always finish last. 

Favorite Quote:

"Honestly, Julius, what kind of friend would I be if I left you to pull off a miracle on your own?"

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.