Book & Audio Review: One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Rachel Aaron

One Good Dragon Deserves Another
Author: Rachel Aaron
Narrator: Vikas Adam
Series: Heartstrikers (Book 2)
Publication: Aaron/Bach (August 1, 2015); Audible Studios (October, 13, 2015)
Length: 487 p.; 18 hours and 35 minutes

Description: After barely escaping the machinations of his terrifying mother, two all-knowing seers, and countless bloodthirsty siblings, the last thing Julius wants to see is another dragon. Unfortunately for him, the only thing more dangerous than being a useless Heartstriker is being a useful one. Now that he's got an in with the Three Sisters, Julius has become a key pawn in Bethesda the Heartstriker's gamble to put her clan on top.

Refusal to play along with his mother's plans means death, but there's more going on than even Bethesda knows. Heartstriker futures are disappearing, and Algonquin's dragon hunter is closing in. Now, with his most powerful family members dropping like flies, it's up to Julius to save the family that never respected him and prove once and for all that the world's worst dragon is the very best one to have on your side.

My Thoughts: The second book in the Heartstriker series sees seers plotting, dragons acting like dragons, and Julius doing his own thing. 

Estella of the Northern Star, oldest daughter of the Three Sisters, has a plan to bring down the Heartstrikers, and, especially, defeat her rival seer Bob, otherwise known and Brohomir, Great Seer of the Heartstrikers.

Meanwhile, Julius is in the DFZ where he and his human friend and mage Marci have attracted the attention of Algonquin and her dragon hunter Vann Jeger who is a water spirit known as the Death of Dragons. When Marci is captured and put under a death curse, they have less than twenty-four hours to defeat and unbeatable foe. 

That should be enough for anyone to deal with, but Julius also has to deal with his ruthless and treacherous mother Bethesda and his sister Chelsie who is his mother's bound hit-woman. She's been sent to the DFZ to kill Julius.

This episode also introduces Amelia who is Bethesda's oldest surviving child and heir. She doesn't want the job and has spent her time out on the planes to avoid it and avoid assassination by Bethesda who doesn't want any rivals.

Julius has to use all his special and undraconic abilities in order to make things right, defeat Estella's planned future, and bring about the future that he wants. 

This was a great story excellently narrated by Vikas Adam. I liked the worldbuilding and characters.

Favorite Quote:

"Anyone who challenges you expecting a dragon will get something else entirely, something they are completely unprepared to fight. Something they do not, and most likely cannot, understand. So when I say, 'be yourself,' I'm telling you to use the advantage no other dragon in the world possesses." He stepped back, looking Julius up and down. "You."

Julius swallowed. "That doesn't sound like much of an advantage."

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