- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 1359 KB | Release Date: June 30, 2014 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Teen | Obtained: Entangled Publishing"Going Down In Flames" [Going Down In Flames/Shape-Shifting Dragon Series, Book 1] by Chris Cannon
Author's Book Description : If her love life is going down in flames, she might as well spark a revolution.
Finding out on your sixteenth birthday you're a shape-shifting dragon is tough to swallow. Being hauled off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.
Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it's a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.
Zavien is tired of the Directorate's rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn's help, they may be able to change the rules.
At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She'll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you're falling for someone you can't have.
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! This thrilling comedic paranormal romance was one I couldn’t put down! With it’s constant one-liners, hilarious bantering characters, and suspenseful intrigue makes it hard not to get wrapped up in the dramedy of it all, and still want more!
The beginning reminded me of Ms. Cast’s House of Night Series. Only because of how Bryn (the heroine) comes into her “powers” when she is a teen than is told that she now has to leave her family to fulfill a life she doesn’t want to lead. I did like how, throughout this novel, Bryn sticks to her guns and stays true to who she really is (except possibly in the very last scene) no matter what is thrown her way. This novel is listed as a YA novel yet with the way Bryn handles her life, and everything else, once she turns sixteen without informing her parents once I thought it was more of an NA novel.
In regards, to Bryn’s “men,” in truth I liked them all in different ways. So ...
About the Bryn’s Men:
• Zavien: Black dragon. A “rebel” with a good heart. Yet, even though he wants to change the rules, he still follows them (which kind of baffles me). He’s the one who Bryn falls for first and he seems to return her feelings. But is he willing to completely defy the rules to be with her or will he just keep doing the “peaceful protest” and wait it out?
• Jaxon: Blue dragon. The son of Bryn’s worse enemy. Arrogant and obnoxious. However, he seems to have a good heart. Bryn and him get on each others nerves so much that I can see them sparking with lust too, so we’ll see if anything will happen between them.
• Valmont: A human knight. Comes to Bryn’s defense during a time when she was arguing with Zavien and in turn becomes her personal knight. With the different secondary stories being told of legends where knight’s and their dragons fell in love, I can definitely see something happening between Bryn and him. I’d really like to learn more about him, as he seems nice and hot! =0)
• Merrick: Blue dragon. A lawyer for Directorate. Is interested in Bryn but is quite older then her and already married. Assists Bryn when she comes into trouble and kind of becomes her friend.
Suspenseful enough to keep you entertained while curious to see where this series will lead us next. I just hope no one I like dies as this series progresses since this seems to be the type of novel to have that happen.
The only thing that ruined it for me was the very last scene as I felt that Bryn was being a bit of a sellout.
Nevertheless, I recommend this novel and series to anyone who likes YA/NA suspenseful paranormal romances!
Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here :
My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Spreading the Word for Entangled Teen with 2 Novels by Karri Thompson & Chris Cannon
Author's Novel Extras : Pinterest: Going Down In Flames | Brain Candy | Highlight Reel for 2013 | Check out UtopYA 2014 | Going Down In Flames Dragon Decor | Why I Listen to the Voices in My Head: My Writing Process Blog Tour | Fun Food Fantasies | Going Down In Flames -Official Release Date June 30th-Rafflecopter | Release Day Excerpt and Rafflecopter
Author's Series Extras : Sharing the Writing Process Blog Hop.
Book Teaser(s) :
“Follow us.”
Both of her parents jumped off the building. No warning. No instructions. They just extended their wings and took off.
“Are you crazy?” All that was going through her mind was the “If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?” speech. In her case, the answer was no.
Her mom circled back and landed. “What’s wrong?”
“You can’t expect me to ignore sixteen years of common sense.”
Her dad landed with a thump. “Once you’re airborne, your dragon instincts kick in.”
Should she bet on that? What if her instincts were messed up? “Can’t we start on the ground and flap? How do you fly if there isn’t a building to jump off?”
“When we’re on the ground, we can lift off. This is how your father and I learned to fly,” her mom said. “We thought it’d be easiest.”
Bryn gazed at the pavement three stories below. “If I die, I won’t have to go to dragon school.” ~ within Chapter 5
Vivian climbed into the water. “We come here to swim. The chlorinated water in the gym pool burns my nostrils.” She moved through the water with ease, undulating her body like a dolphin.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Chris, then please check out her website.
“Is that hard?” Bryn asked.
“You’ve never swam?”
“Not as a dragon.”
“You glide through the water the same way you glide through the air.”
Bryn stepped off the boulder, attempted to glide in the water, and slid beneath the surface. Flapping her wings, she gasped for air.
Octavius laughed.
“I’m making a great impression today.” She tread water with her wings. Once she mastered that, she tried to undulate like Vivian and ended up performing an awkward dragon dog paddle.
Octavius barked at her. ~ within Chapter 16
