Heart of Fire by Bec McMaster

 

Bec McMaster can be hit or miss with me although I do generally like her work. HEART OF FIRE had some great elements but there were also things about it that I really didn't enjoy. First, the good. I loved the writing. I think McMaster has a way with words and some of her passages are truly beautiful. I highlighted some of my favorite passages while posting status updates for this book. Second, the dragons. I love dragons, and it was fun to read about them in a late-nineteenth century Icelandic setting. Third, the hero was pretty hot. I'm not usually into blonde guys, but Rurik, the dragon with a heart of gold was great.

Where this book fails is with its Mary Sue heroine and the insta-love. Freyja has two different colored eyes, unspecified magic powers, and a wise-cracking sense of bravery that often verges on the ludicrous. Of course the hero falls for her at first sight. *eye roll* I actually didn't mind their initial confrontation but I hated how the dragon guy went from being intrigued with her to SHE IS MINE I LOVE HER instantly.

The dragon hunter element was great and I liked the twist with the one guy's "dead" wife, but I ended up skimming a lot of this book.

McMaster sure can write a pretty decent sex scene though. Even if she's a little too fond of the word "male."

2 to 2.5 out of 5 stars